Vadodara, June 25 (IANS) Gujarat Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Jagdish Vishwakarma on Thursday alleged that those who speak about the Constitution today should also examine the actions of their predecessors, while addressing a convention held in Vadodara on the occasion marked as ‘25 June: Samvidhan Hatya Diwas’.
The programme was held to mark the anniversary of the Emergency imposed in 1975. Speaking at the event, Vishwakarma described the Emergency period as a serious setback to democratic processes and constitutional governance in the country.
“The Emergency imposed on the country by the Congress government on the night of June 25, 1975, is the darkest chapter in India’s democratic history,” he said.
He added that then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi imposed the Emergency “to save her own power” following political and legal developments of the time.
Vishwakarma referred to the judicial proceedings related to the 1971 Lok Sabha election involving Indira Gandhi and opposition leader Raj Narain, which resulted in a ruling by the Allahabad High Court invalidating her election and restricting her from holding office for a period.
He said that the Constitution of India had been framed after extensive deliberations over nearly three years, involving multiple committees and long discussions.
However, he alleged that the constitution was later altered during Congress’s rule for political purposes. “Those who speak about the Constitution today, their own predecessors committed the biggest violation of the Constitution,” he said.
According to Vishwakarma, the Emergency period saw widespread curtailment of civil liberties. “More than one lakh people were detained without warrants under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA), and detainees were denied legal remedies such as bail or the ability to challenge their detention in court,” he claimed.
He also said press and media freedom were restricted during the period through censorship and control measures, and that dissenting voices were suppressed.
“Political workers, social activists and ordinary citizens were detained for opposing government policies,” he said.
Referring to administrative measures during the period, he alleged that coercive population control programmes were implemented, which led to public dissatisfaction.
He further said that several constitutional amendments were carried out during the Emergency, including changes to the Preamble and other provisions, and that judicial independence was challenged.
Vishwakarma also referred to the historical addition of Article 35A alongside Article 370 during Jawaharlal Nehru’s tenure, stating that “it created differences in constitutional rights between Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country”.
He said that the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi strengthened national unity and integrity.
He further referred to the role of Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee in relation to Jammu and Kashmir, stating that his sacrifice was linked to the integration of the region with the rest of the country. “The national flag is now proudly flying from Lal Chowk to Ladakh,” he said.
The State BJP President said the observance of ‘Constitution Killing Day’ should serve as both a reminder of the Emergency and a call to remain vigilant in protecting democratic institutions.
During the programme, Vishwakarma also felicitated individuals who had been detained under MISA during the Emergency.
The event was attended by state ministers, party office-bearers, elected representatives, and workers from Vadodara and other parts of Gujarat.
–IANS
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