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BJP National President and Union Minister Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda, in his address to the media on ‘Samvidhan Hatya Diwas’ at the BJP Central Office in New Delhi on 25 June 2025, said the Emergency imposed on 25th June 1975 was a direct attack on democracy. Criticising the Congress party of having a dictatorial mindset, Shri Nadda said that Indira Gandhi trampled upon the Constitution under the pretext of internal unrest, suppressed press freedom, and jailed opposition leaders. The BJP National President strongly criticized the role of the Congress during the Emergency and stated that even today, the Congress continues to promote nepotism, individualism, and undemocratic values. He also paid tribute to the heroes who sacrificed their lives to protect India’s democracy
BJP National President and Union Minister Shri JP Nadda said India is the world’s oldest and largest democratic nation. However, there have been instances in the country where malicious attempts were made to undermine the very spirit of the Constitution. These incidents are remembered as dark chapters in the history of Indian democracy. On this day, 50 years ago, the then Prime Minister from the Congress government, Mrs. Indira Gandhi, declared Emergency. It was not merely a political event, but a direct and deliberate assault on democracy. On the midnight of 25th June 1975, Indira Gandhi imposed Emergency across the nation under the pretext of internal unrest and, in doing so, trampled the Constitution. Even after five decades, the Congress party continues to operate with the same mindset. Its intentions remain rooted in dictatorial tendencies.
In 1975, the court found Indira Gandhi guilty
BJP National President stated in 1975, the court found Indira Gandhi guilty of violating the election code of conduct and disqualified her from holding any elected office for six years. In response, overnight, the electricity supply to media houses was cut, the entire opposition was imprisoned, and press freedom was completely suppressed. Article 352 was grossly misused to crush democracy. Parliament and the judiciary were rendered ineffective, and on the morning of 26th June, the Congress’s dictatorial government formally imposed Emergency across the country. The opposition to the Congress dictatorship was not just a political stand—it was a movement to safeguard the soul of India and its Constitution.
In this struggle, nationalists risked their lives to uphold democratic values. Shri Jayaprakash Narayan, Chaudhary Charan Singh, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Shri Lal Krishna Advani, Rajmata Vijayraje Scindia, Shri Murli Manohar Joshi, and thousands of party workers and members of the ideological family were forcibly jailed by Indira Gandhi’s regime.
Shri Modi took the truth about Congress to every village
Shri Nadda said Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, as a RSS Pracharak, outwitted the dictatorial regime and with the support of lakhs of dedicated volunteers, took the truth about the Congress party’s actions during the Emergency to every village, every street, and every household. He added that these stories of the Emergency, the courageous struggle of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, and many unheard incidents have been documented in the book ‘The Emergency Diaries – Years that Forged a Leader’.
Important to remember and remind the nation of the pain
BJP National President said it is important to remember and remind the nation of the pain and trauma caused by the Emergency even 50 years later, and the murder of the Constitution, because the Congress party still operates with the same dictatorial mindset. He emphasized that we must all read this book to understand how Congress conspired to crush the country’s democracy, and how true devotees of democracy, without fearing for their lives, exposed and resisted this conspiracy by documenting their struggle. Slogans like “India is Indira, and Indira is India” clearly reflected the Congress’s mentality, under which Indira Gandhi turned the entire country into a laboratory of individualism and nepotism.
Congress party believes that only one family has the right to power
Shri Nadda said that the Congress party believes that only one person and one family have the right to power in this country. That is why it once placed a ‘Super Prime Minister’ above its own elected Prime Minister. Even today, the Congress continues to operate with the same mentality. The party cannot accept that someone from a humble, poor background has risen to become the Prime Minister of India.
He added that the law-and-order situation in Congress-ruled states today mirrors the conditions during the Emergency—with the suppression of the opposition, blatant religious appeasement, and the arrogance of power on full display.
Indira Gandhi denied Justice H.R. Khanna the position of Chief Justice of India
Shri Nadda highlighted that Indira Gandhi denied Justice H.R. Khanna the position of Chief Justice of India, despite his seniority, solely because he had delivered a judgment against her government. Congress ensured that any officer or judge who did not obey their directives was either removed or transferred. To safeguard her power, Indira Gandhi made undemocratic amendments that altered the very soul of the Constitution. During the Emergency, even if a citizen was shot, they had no right to approach the court.
Congress never apologized for imposing the Emergency
Shri Nadda said that today Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party are making false appeals in the name of the Constitution. During the Emergency, those imprisoned were not even allowed to attend the last rites of their own relatives. To this day, Congress has never apologized for imposing the Emergency or for its undemocratic actions during that time. Before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Congress officially released a list of journalists to be boycotted, instructing its spokespersons not to participate in debates involving them. On one hand, they file cases against journalists while in power, and on the other hand, they boycott them when in opposition. This clearly reflects Congress’s double standards on press freedom and democracy.
Shri Nadda said on this occasion, on my behalf and on behalf of crores of Bharatiya Janata Party Karyakartas, I pay heartfelt tribute and express gratitude to the true soldiers of democracy who sacrificed their lives in the great struggle to free the country from the curse of the Emergency. They not only protected the Constitution but also safeguarded the soul of the nation.
• On this day, 50 years ago, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi imposed the Emergency on the country.
This decision is still remembered as a dark chapter in the history of Indian democracy and a deep blow to the soul of the Constitution.
• On the 50th anniversary of the Emergency, it is important to remember this attack on the Constitution and remind others, because the dictatorial mindset of the Congress party continues even today.
• During the Emergency, the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, then a Karyakarta, bravely challenged the dictatorial regime. Along with lakhs of volunteers, he took the truth about Congress’s actions to every street and village.
• Congress still believes that only one family has the right to rule the country. It had even placed a ‘super Prime Minister’ above its own Prime Minister.
• To stay in power, Indira Gandhi made undemocratic amendments to the Constitution, changing its soul.