Calling it one of the darkest chapters in India's democratic history, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today (June 25), marking the 50th anniversary of the Emergency, said that no Indian will ever forget how the spirit of the Constitution was violated and the voice of Parliament muzzled.

“Today marks fifty years since one of the darkest chapters in India’s democratic history, the imposition of the Emergency. The people of India mark this day as Samvidhan Hatya Diwas. On this day, the values enshrined in the Indian Constitution were set aside, fundamental rights were suspended, press freedom was extinguished and several political leaders, social workers, students and ordinary citizens were jailed,” the Prime Minister wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Slamming the then Congress government of Indira Gandhi for “placing democracy under arrest”, the PM said: “No Indian will ever forget the manner in which the spirit of our Constitution was violated, the voice of Parliament muzzled and attempts were made to control the courts. The 42nd Amendment is a prime example of their shenanigans. The poor, marginalised and downtrodden were particularly targeted, including their dignity insulted.”