Assam CM brands National Emergency as 'mindless' and 'draconian'

GUWAHATI: A former Congress leader and now the Bharatiya Janta Party's chief minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma has slammed the Indian National Congress Party on the day occasion of 46 years National Emergency on June 25 announced by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

CM Sarma has shared his views on the daily English newspaper The Assam Tribune terming it as "a black day of democratic India" and said, "... the democratic tradition of India was first infringed upon during the British Rule. It was later dented by the Congress during the time of Mrs. Indira Gandhi."

Sarma added further, "Today, in 2021, even after 46 years, we sorrowfully are reminded of the heinous attempt to murder democracy and the democratic rights of India's citizens."

The 21 months long period from June 25, 1975, to March 21, 1977, referred to as "The National Emergency" in Indian politics when PM Indira Gandhi announced a state of emergency across the nation.

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It was officially issued by President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed under Article 352 of the Constitution on account of the prevailing "internal disturbance".

CM Sarma asserted, "The imposition of national emergency was not done to thwart any attempt of political violence or sedition. It was a sheer manifestation of Gandhi's anger and her pervert attempt to enjoy political supremacy."

"It was at her direction that the government machinery was used to send the Opposition leaders behind bars," Sarma accused.

Sarma in his article has taken the reference of the Allahabad High Court's order on June 12 1975 where Justice Sinha's judgment held her guilty of using government machinery and officials in electioneering and deprived her of holding any government post for a period of six years and yet instead of obeying the court's order she continued to held her office and sent opposition leaders to jail for protesting against it.

"Every year on June 25 we remembered this black chapter of Indian democracy," Sarma expressed.

CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, who was a former Congress leader as well, has joined the Bharatiya Janata Party for some alleged inner conflicts and during his assembly election campaign this year said that 22 years of him in Congress was a 'total waste of time'.

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