Delhi's Lieutenant Governor Compares Emergency to Historical Tyranny

Emergency's 50th Anniversary Reflections

On Wednesday, V.K. Saxena, the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, drew parallels between the emergency imposed in India and the brutalities of the Sultanate, Mughal, and British eras. Speaking at an event held at the Tyagaraj Stadium to mark the 50th anniversary of the emergency, he remarked that carrying a copy of the Constitution and discussing constitutional values has become a mere trend.

In a clear reference to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's call to 'save democracy,' Saxena emphasized the need to first grasp the essence and culture of India as enshrined in the Constitution. He stated that if this understanding is achieved, there would be no need to wave around copies of the Constitution.

Saxena asserted that the emergency not only brutally suppressed democracy and civil rights but also led to the murder of the Constitution itself.

He noted, 'In the next two years, the country witnessed the cruel face of a tyrannical government intoxicated by power, akin to the cruelty of the Sultanate, Mughal, and British rulers.'

The Lieutenant Governor pointed out that if those in high positions of power had adhered to their oath to protect democracy, the emergency would never have occurred.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also participated in an event titled 'Constitution Murder Day,' organized by the Ministry of Culture. During this event, Delhi's Chief Minister Rekha Gupta reminded attendees that those who carry copies of the Constitution should remember that democracy was murdered on June 25, 1975.

She stated, 'The entire nation was turned into a prison, people's rights were stripped away, and the media was silenced.' Gupta accused the then Prime Minister of jeopardizing the entire country to preserve his power.

She urged everyone to pledge to ensure that the Constitution never faces threats again and that no dark day for democracy occurs in the future.