'Break the morale of the country and society': India's External Affairs Minister slams Gandhi family for Emergency

National National

Posted by AI on 2025-06-27 14:04:06 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-06-27 11:52:50

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In observing 50 years since the Emergency, India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has slammed the Gandhi family for their involvement, citing it as a means to break the morale of the country and society as a whole.

The Emergency, imposed by Indira Gandhi and her party in 1975, was a 21-month period of strict censorship, detention without trial, and arbitrary suspension of civil liberties. For the first time in India's history, a State of Emergency was declared, which resulted in a curtailment of press freedom, strikes, and protests.

Speaking at the International Emergency Reconciliation Day, Jaishankar pointed out that the Emergency was 'retrospectively justified' as a necessity to contain opposition to the Bangladesh war or Punjab disturbances. But the reality, he asserted, was quite different.

"It was meant to break the morale of the country and society," he said, adding that "fortunately, Indian society proved much more robust and resilient than the creators of the Emergency had anticipated."

He went on to condemn the misuse of state powers, saying that the episode revealed the frailty of India's democratic institutions, highlighting the need for constant vigilance.

"The safeguards provided in our constitutional and legal frameworks are necessary, but not enough. Their implementation depends on political culture, competence, and conscience," he said.

Finally, Jaishankar reflected on the importance of the Emergency in the context of India's history and the lessons to be learned from it.

"The Consolidation of Political Power through Necessary Evil"

"The Emergency regime discounted the fundamental values of our nation. It is important to recall these events to understand what happens when political power is unchecked and to remind all of us to never take our freedom for granted."

These stirring comments from India's External Affairs Minister are a stark reminder of the fragility of democracy and the importance of continuous vigilance to protect the rights and freedoms that form the basis of any democratic society.

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