Arguably the darkest chapter of India’s history – Emergency of June 25th 1975 – was declared on this day 42 years ago which was brought into action by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, to crush rising chaos across the nation. The emergency resulted in a total suspension of human rights, scores of political arrests and forced sterilisation. The chapter unfolded in modern India’s history, where the then President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed declared Emergency under Article 352 of the Constitution on the grounds that “the security of India is threatened by internal disturbance” on the stoke of midnight of June 24. People in India and the rest of the world were stunned by the unprecedented developments as fundamental rights were suspended, judiciary was overthrown various organisations were banned, protestors were forcibly jailed and many were even tortured. The imposition of Emergency was an important lesson, passing on the message that the people of India will never tolerate authoritarianism.
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