Modi remembers Emergency on its anniversary, pitches for preserving democracy

Says its essential to remember incidents that have caused harm to democracy and move ahead towards positives of democracy

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Recalling the imposition of Emergency exactly 42 years ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called June 25, 1975 — when Emergency was proclaimed late at night — “a dark night that no devotee of democracy can forget”.

He was addressing the nation in his monthly Mann Ki Baat address, which coincided with the anniversary of the Emergency.

Calls for vigilance

“Not only is Democracy a system but also a sanskar — a part of our ethos. Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. One needs to be constantly alert about our democracy, that is why we must also keep remembering the events that inflicted harm upon our democracy; and at the same time move ahead, carrying forward the virtues of democracy,” Mr. Modi said.

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Emergency imposed on this day in 1975 will be remembered: Modi

“The country had virtually become a prison. The voice of the opposition had been smothered. Several prominent leaders including Jai Prakash Narayan had been jailed. The judicial system too, could not escape the sinister shadows of the Emergency. The press was completely muffled. The present-day students of journalism and the champions of democracy have been endeavouring towards raising awareness about that dark period, by constant reminders, and should continue to do so,” Mr. Modi said. He also recited a Hindi poem written during the Emergency by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

“The believers of democracy fought a prolonged war, and the great nation that India is, where the spirit of democracy pervades the very being of all its people, the strength of that spirit was demonstrated when the opportunity of elections came. We have to further fortify that legacy,” Mr. Modi said.

The Prime Minister wished people on the occasion of the Jagannath Rath Yatra and Id, underlining that pluralism was a strength of India. The message comes at a time of reports of attacks on members of minority communities, including a lynching incident on a train on Friday.

“India’s diversity is its unique characteristic, and India’s diversity is also its strength. The holy month of Ramzan is observed all across in prayer with piety. And now the festival of Id is here. On the occasion of Id-ul-Fitr, my heartiest greetings to one and all. Ramzan is a month of charity and sharing joy. The more you share joy, the more it multiplies. Let us come together and take inspiration from these holy festivals and share their joyous treasures, and take the nation forward,” the Prime Minister said.