Echoes of Resistance: PM Modi Urges Nation to Remember Emergency-Era Heroes

In his 123rd Mann Ki Baat broadcast on June 29, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked the 50th anniversary of the Emergency by calling on citizens to remember those who stood up against what he described as one of the darkest chapters in India’s democratic history. Without naming the Congress party or then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Modi condemned the 21-month Emergency period (1975–1977) as a time when the Constitution was subverted and civil liberties were crushed.

Here’s a detailed look at the Prime Minister’s remarks and their broader significance.

Key Highlights from the Broadcast

- Modi described the Emergency as a period when the Constitution was murdered and the judiciary reduced to a puppet  
- He played archival audio clips of anti-Emergency leaders including Morarji Desai, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and Jagjivan Ram  
- The Prime Minister recalled the arrest and shackling of George Fernandes and the widespread use of the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) to detain dissenters  
- He emphasized that students were harassed, freedom of expression was throttled, and thousands were jailed and subjected to inhuman treatment  
- Modi praised the resilience of the Indian people, who he said refused to bow down and ultimately restored democracy through the ballot  

Commemorating Samvidhan Hatya Diwas

- The 50th anniversary of the Emergency was observed as Samvidhan Hatya Diwas, or Constitution Murder Day  
- Modi urged that those who resisted the Emergency be remembered not just as political figures but as defenders of democracy  
- He framed their legacy as a reminder to remain vigilant and protect constitutional values in the present and future  

Context and Political Undertones

- The remarks come amid ongoing political friction, with opposition parties accusing the current government of authoritarian tendencies  
- Modi’s speech, while not naming the Congress, was widely interpreted as a critique of its historical role during the Emergency  
- The broadcast also served to reinforce the BJP’s narrative of being the custodian of democratic values and constitutional integrity  

Public and Historical Significance

- The Emergency, declared on June 25, 1975, remains a pivotal moment in India’s post-independence history  
- It saw the suspension of elections, press censorship, and mass arrests of political opponents  
- Modi’s call to remember the resistance serves both as a historical reflection and a political message ahead of upcoming state elections  

As India reflects on five decades since the Emergency, the Prime Minister’s address underscores the enduring relevance of democratic vigilance—and the importance of remembering those who fought to preserve it.

Sources: NDTV, The Hindu, Moneycontrol, New Indian Express, MSN India, Mann Ki Baat Broadcast June 29, 2025