Nawanshahr, 25th June- Although 50 years ago, the Emergency was imposed by the Indira Gandhi government on the midnight of 25-26th June, but the countrymen felt its sting when they opened their eyes on the morning of 26th June. The countrymen suffered from it from 25th June 1975 to 21st March 1977. 1 lakh 40 thousand people were put in jails and 83 lakh countrymen were forcibly sterilized. Many Naxalite leaders and activists had to spend time in jails for opposing the Emergency. Akali Dal, Jansangh and other regional parties opposed the Emergency. The black stain of the Emergency on the Congress Party's reputation will never fade away. Here are the views of various personalities for our true readers:-
Mr. Brijinder Singh Hussainpur, a pure religious leader who played an important role in the service and management of various Gurudwaras, said that the countrymen can never forget the dark period of Emergency, when the human and democratic rights of the citizens enshrined in the Constitution were badly crushed by the Congress government of Indira Gandhi.
During this period, Shiromani Akali Dal and Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee challenged the anti-democracy Indira government and 40 thousand leaders and workers served jail terms, while the total number of people who served jail terms during the Emergency in the entire country was 1 lakh 40 thousand. Shiromani Akali Dal played an important role in creating an alternative to Congress in the country after the Emergency.
Dr. Nachhatarpal, MLA Nawanshahr, said that in the name of security of the country and society, the right to live including all the democratic rights enshrined in the Constitution were suspended during the Emergency. Now again, in the name of patriotism and integrity, human rights are being abolished informally once again. The right to life of those who criticize organizations with aggressive ideology and government policies is being snatched away in the name of gangsterism.
Those who write and speak the truth are being put in jails through black laws like sedition. Through the fascism being spread, workers, farmers, employees organizations are being weakened and domestic and foreign corporates are being benefited. Such forces are trying to tamper with the soul of the Constitution written by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, which will not be tolerated.
Shri Ramandeep Singh Thiara, Youth Akali Dal leader, said that people came to know about the Emergency declared on the midnight of 25-26 June 1975 from the headlines printed on the blank pages of newspapers of 26 June and from the radio. Through this, fundamental rights and even the right to life were abolished. The words coming out of the mouth of the Congress rulers became law.
The term of the Indira Gandhi government ended in 1976, but by amending the Constitution, it was extended for one more year till 1977. Due to pressure from within and outside the country, general elections to the Parliament had to be held in 1977. In this, the Congress Party had to face a huge defeat.
If we look at the current situation of the country while remembering the dark period of Emergency, it becomes clear that today's conditions are also not good. Attacks on Dalits and religious minorities, displacement of tribals from their water, forest, land, arrests of intellectuals, attacks on journalists and writers, are signs of the rapid growth of fascism.
Jasbir Deep, District Secretary Janwadi Adhikar Sabha, said that Emergency was the biggest threat to the countrymen after independence, when Indira Gandhi put people in jails to end human rights. The reality is that at that time the government was facing the problem of economy.
Instead of solving it, the rulers adopted the path of Emergency. We are in a worse situation than that in today's time. The truth of poverty, inflation, unemployment, corruption, hunger, education, health crisis and the very bad economic condition of the country is being suppressed under the noise of religious fundamentalism.
At that time, the government machinery was helping the social elements in carrying out repression. Organizations with special ideology and fascist thinking are active throughout the country, which can be countered by creating a democratic movement in the true sense, and not by locking ourselves in our homes.