States » NorthPosted at: Jun 27 2025 12:48AM


Emergency was an attack on democracy: Union MoS Harsh Malhotra

Dharamshala, June 26 (UNI) On the 50th anniversary of the Emergency, Union Minister of State for Corporate Affairs and Road Transport & Highways, Harsh Malhotra, launched a scathing attack on the Congress party, accusing former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi of destroying democracy by imposing the Emergency on June 25, 1975.
Addressing a press conference in Dharamshala today, Malhotra said that the Emergency was declared not due to any national crisis like war or rebellion, but because of Indira Gandhi’s desperation to retain power after her election was annulled by the Allahabad High Court. He said, “It was not a national emergency but a personal conspiracy to silence the judiciary and suppress dissent. Indira Gandhi abused Article 352 under the false pretext of internal unrest.”
The Minister stated that the Emergency turned India’s democracy into dictatorship overnight. “The three pillars of democracy—executive, legislature, and judiciary—were reduced to puppets. Press freedom was crushed, major newspapers had their electricity cut, censorship was imposed, and journalists were jailed,” he said.
Malhotra further accused Sanjay Gandhi of acting like a “Hitler during the Emergency", launching a mass sterilization drive that saw over six million forced sterilizations across the country, including of minors and the elderly.
“Several people committed suicide due to forced sterilizations,” he noted.
Highlighting Congress’ history of constitutional overreach, Malhotra said the 38th Amendment removed judicial oversight over the Emergency. “During the ADM Jabalpur vs Shivkant Shukla case, the Congress government argued that even if a citizen was shot during the Emergency, they had no right to approach the court. Justice H.R. Khanna stood as the lone dissenting voice—and was punished for it by being denied the post of Chief Justice,” Malhotra said.
He accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of keeping silent on this dark legacy and criticised him for tearing up an ordinance in 2013 in Parliament without apologising to the people.
The Minister also pointed out that the Shah Commission, formed to investigate the Emergency, clearly stated in its final report on August 6, 1978, that there was no constitutional justification for it. He alleged that Indira Gandhi got the report destroyed after returning to power in 1980.
Malhotra also criticised Congress for disbanding the Press Council of India during the Emergency to silence media criticism.
“The same Congress that censored newspapers now promotes fake narratives on digital platforms and files cases to suppress ideological opposition,” he said.
Prominent BJP leaders present at the event included Himachal Pradesh BJP General Secretary Trilok Kapoor, BJP Vice-President and MLA Pawan Kajal, former minister and MLA Sudhir Sharma, BJP spokesperson Sanjay Sharma, Rakesh Sharma, BJP Secretary Vishal Chauhan, OBC Morcha President Vinay Chaudhary, Kangra BJP President Sachin Sharma, BJP Media Co-incharge Advocate Vishw Chakshu, former MLA Vishal Nehria, Dharamshala Mandal President Dr. Vishal Nehria, and BJP Kangra General Secretary Devendra Kohli.

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