HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, June 25: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday took part in a Mock Parliament organised by the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha and BJP Mahila Morcha at the Bhogeswari Phukanani Indoor Stadium in Guwahati, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the imposition of the Emergency in India.
The event, held in remembrance of one of the most controversial chapters in India’s democratic history, was attended by prominent party leaders and a large number of youth participants.
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According to an official statement, the Chief Minister addressed the gathering, emphasising the importance of remembering and understanding the Emergency period—not just as a historical event but as a crucial lesson for the future.
“It is imperative for the new generation of India to commemorate the Emergency every year to ensure that such events are never repeated,” Sarma said.
He noted that the youth have a responsibility to study and reflect upon the widespread atrocities committed during the 21-month period from 1975 to 1977.
Sarma recounted that the Emergency was declared on June 25, 1975, by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, without prior cabinet approval, which he described as a direct assault on the nation’s democratic fabric.
Highlighting the legal and constitutional violations during that time, he pointed to the Supreme Court’s infamous judgement that permitted the suspension of Article 21 of the Constitution—effectively nullifying the right to life and personal liberty.
“This enabled the government to arrest and detain individuals without judicial oversight, and the state was not held accountable even in cases of custodial deaths,” he said.
Citing the Shah Commission Report and other declassified historical documents, the Chief Minister urged the youth to educate themselves about the Emergency and its long-lasting implications on civil liberties, press freedom, and institutional independence.
He recalled that in response to the crackdown, protest movements like the Navnirman Andolan in Gujarat gained momentum and later merged with a nationwide call for democratic restoration under the leadership of Jayaprakash Narayan.
Sarma paid tribute to leaders who resisted the Emergency and endured imprisonment for the cause of democracy.
“Leaders such as Morarji Desai, Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Lal Krishna Advani, George Fernandes, and Nanaji Deshmukh were instrumental in mobilising public opinion and forcing Indira Gandhi to withdraw the Emergency,” he noted.
The chief minister also expressed hope that the participants of the Mock Parliament would use the occasion to reflect on the illegitimacy—both legal and moral—of the Emergency.
He credited the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Jan Sangh for their role in organising resistance against what he described as authoritarianism under Indira Gandhi’s regime.
Taking a critical view of the Congress party’s continued silence over its role during the Emergency, Sarma drew parallels with global precedents of historical accountability.
“Whether it was the British expressing regret for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre or American Presidents visiting Hiroshima, history shows that those responsible for injustice have expressed remorse. Yet the Congress party has never apologised for the Emergency,” he said.
He asserted that the party responsible should formally apologise to the nation for undermining its democratic values and pledge that such a chapter would never repeat itself.
Also present at the event were Assam BJP President and MP Dilip Saikia, State BJP Yuva Morcha President Rakesh Das, BJP Mahila Morcha State President Swapna Bania, and several other party leaders and dignitaries.
The Mock Parliament event saw enthusiastic participation from students, youth activists, and political workers, with segments reenacting the parliamentary procedures and events that unfolded during the Emergency.
The programme concluded with calls for preserving constitutional values and resisting any future threats to democratic institutions.
