The Government of India has declared June 25 as “Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas” (Constitution Killing Day) to mark the imposition of the Emergency by then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975. 

Key Points:

  • On June 25, 1975, Indira Gandhi suspended civil liberties, imposed censorship on the media, and jailed lakhs of people without reason, displaying a dictatorial mindset and strangling the soul of Indian democracy. 
  • The government’s decision to observe June 25 as “Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas” is intended to honor the spirit of millions who struggled to revive democracy despite facing persecution under the oppressive Emergency regime. 
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that this day will serve as a reminder of what happens when the Constitution is trampled over, and it is also a day to pay homage to those who suffered due to the excesses of the Emergency, which he described as a “dark phase of Indian history”. 
  • The Congress party has criticized the government’s decision, calling it a “headline-grabbing exercise in hypocrisy” and accusing Prime Minister Modi of imposing an “undeclared Emergency” for ten years and subjecting the Constitution to a “systematic assault”. 

The observance of “Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas” is a significant step in acknowledging the sacrifices made by those who fought against the authoritarian measures of the Emergency and in reaffirming India’s commitment to upholding the principles of democracy and the rule of law enshrined in the Constitution.