Haryana CM: Emergency was brutal assault on freedom, rights of women

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has said, during the Emergency, women endured atrocities equal to those faced by ‘loktantra senanis’, and bravely withstood that dark period. He added that the contribution of women as guardians of democracy will never be forgotten.

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He was addressing the gathering at a women’s mock parliament, held on Saturday at Gurugram University to mark the 50th anniversary of the Emergency. During the event, the Chief Minister observed the proceedings of the mock parliament. He said the event, dedicated to women’s empowerment, served as both a reminder of the atrocities committed against women during the Emergency and a tribute to their courage and sacrifice. The CM honoured ‘loktantra senanis’, who stood against the injustices of that period.

Those felicitated included Loktantra Senani Sangathan state president Mahavir Bhardwaj, SB Gupta and Shrichand Gupta.

Saini said when the Emergency was imposed in the country, there was neither political instability nor any natural calamity. Yet, the Congress-led government enforced it upon the people out of “selfishness and a narrow mindset”.

The Emergency, imposed 50 years ago, not only violated political rights but also launched a brutal assault on the freedom, dignity, and rights of women, he added.

Many women were jailed, their voices were silenced, and they were confined to their homes, simply for speaking out against injustice, he added, stating that it was a period when both democracy and women’s dignity were severely affected.

“The Constitution was trampled during the Emergency, and this is not a matter to be taken lightly. It reminds us of a time when there was an attempt to silence the voice of the entire nation; a period when the country was turned into a prison to protect the power of a single family, disregarding the Constitution. Emergency was imposed on the night of June 25, 1975, through a misuse of the Constitution, resulting in the curbing of every citizen’s rights,” Saini said. The Chief Minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had honoured those who sacrificed their lives during the Emergency. While many who contributed to protecting the Constitution were being forgotten, PM Modi made efforts to bring their stories to the public’s attention by remembering those who opposed that dark chapter, he added.

The Chief Minister emphasised the importance of maintaining dignity in Parliament. He urged the Opposition to fulfil its responsibility by ensuring smooth proceedings that served national interest.

Congratulating the Haryana chapter of the BJP Mahila Morcha during the mock parliament, he said it had created a platform where women were not only speaking out, but also leading. He praised how “women were not just raising questions, but also offering solutions.”