Union Cabinet passes resolution to mark 50 years of Emergency

• Occasion: 50th anniversary of the Emergency (declared on June 25, 1975, by the Indira Gandhi-led government).

• Observed as Samvidhan Hatya Divas (Constitution Murder Day) by the current government.

• Called the Emergency “one of the darkest chapters in India’s democratic history”.

• Asserted that no Indian would ever forget how the Constitution’s spirit was violated.

• Fundamental rights were suspended

• Press freedom was curbed

• Political leaders, students, and citizens were jailed

• Stated that the poor and marginalised were especially targeted.

• Paid tribute to those who fought to protect India’s democratic fabric, across ideologies and regions.

• Passed a resolution to honour and commemorate the sacrifices of those who opposed the Emergency.

• Observed a two-minute silence in memory of the victims.

• Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasised the importance of remembering this period, especially for the younger generation.

• The Emergency is a reminder of the importance of protecting democracy and constitutional values.

• The government reaffirmed its commitment to upholding constitutional principles and resisting authoritarianism.