Bindal Criticizes Congress for Emergency, Urges to Stop Misleading on Constitution

Shimla, June 25, 2024 – BJP State President Dr. Rajeev Bindal strongly criticized the Congress party, urging them to stop misleading the public about protecting the Constitution. Bindal’s remarks came on the anniversary of the Emergency declared by Indira Gandhi in 1975, describing it as a dark day in Indian history.

Dr. Bindal accused the Congress of using the Constitution as a political tool in the 2024 elections, claiming that the party falsely propagated that Prime Minister Modi would alter the Constitution and end reservations for SCs, STs, and OBCs. He pointed out that from 1947 to 2014, the Congress amended the Constitution over 50 times, often undermining its core principles for political gain.

Reflecting on the Emergency, Bindal recounted how, on the night of June 24, 1975, Indira Gandhi imposed an internal emergency, leading to the arrest of major political leaders by the morning of June 25. Press censorship was enforced, and fundamental freedoms such as speech, expression, and writing were curtailed. Media houses that defied these restrictions faced severe consequences, including shutdowns and imprisonment of journalists.

Bindal highlighted the widespread repression during the Emergency, where individuals were detained, homes and shops were demolished, and a climate of fear prevailed. He narrated the horrors faced by the public, including forced sterilizations and the suppression of dissent, comparing it to a period worse than British colonial rule.

He also shared his personal experiences of resistance, mentioning how underground newspapers were printed and distributed secretly, leading to his own imprisonment for four and a half months under the Defence of India Rules. Bindal emphasized that the public’s revolt against the Emergency led to the restoration of democracy, ultimately resulting in the electoral defeat of Congress.

Bindal urged Congress leaders and workers to reflect on the events of June 25, 1975, and recognize the damage done to democracy. He concluded by stating that those who had committed the grave sin of undermining the sacrifices of millions for independence should cease their deceitful rhetoric about protecting the Constitution.