Emergency was most inhuman act in Indian democracy: L-G

On the occasion of ‘Samvidhan Hatya Diwas’, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday inaugurated the 1975 Emergency Exhibition at Convention Centre, Jammu.

“I consider Emergency to be the most inhuman act of Indian democratic history and today’s observation of ‘Samvidhan Hatya Diwas’ is also an opportunity for deep reflection and reaffirmation of commitment to democratic values and constitutional morality,” the L-G said.

The L-G observed that the imposition of Emergency on June 25, 1975, is not merely a date for historical remembrance, but a call to action to resist any future attempts to undermine India’s democratic fabric, and to strengthen our resolve to deepen the foundations of our democracy and work with complete dedication for greater success of our nation.

“We must learn from those incidents and prepare young generations to prevent such atrocities in future. It is also an opportunity to create awareness about constitutional values in every section of society so that no dictatorial mentality can repeat it in the future,” the L-G said. He paid homage to the countless individuals, political leaders, journalists, activists and citizens who bravely resisted the authoritarian regime and safeguarded democratic values.

The L-G, in his address, called upon the youth to take the lead in exposing those responsible for the murder of the Constitution and democratic values.

The L-G also shared his personal experiences from the Emergency period and emphasised on educating the people about their rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

“Democracy is in the nature of India, democracy is ingrained in our veins since time immemorial. That is why India is called the mother of democracy. I also salute those great personalities who nurtured the rich tradition and heritage of this nation, those who truly enriched democratic values generation after generation. I have full faith that the saga of sacrifices and resilience of our satyagrahis who valiantly protected the democratic values during the Emergency will continue to inspire us to further strengthen our democracy and build a truly developed India,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

Political leaders and citizens who were the victims of Emergency shared the accounts of the sufferings they endured. The Lieutenant Governor assured them that their issues and concerns would be taken up with the authorities concerned.

On the occasion, a Dogri translation of ‘Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita’, ‘Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita’ and ‘Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam’ were also released by the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.