CM Shri Devendra Fadnavis Tweets:
From Darkness to Democracy: India’s Stand Against Emergency!
Being at the 'Samvidhan Hatya Diwas' event with Hon Governor CP Radhakrishnan ji at Raj Bhavan, Mumbai, was a powerful reminder of our democratic values.
In 1975, India faced one of the darkest times in its democracy — The Emergency. After the Supreme Court found then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi guilty of election misconduct in the Raj Narain case, she declared a nationwide Emergency on 25th June, saying there were internal threats. Basic rights were taken away, and the voice of the people was silenced.
MahaManav BharatRatna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, the architect of our Constitution, called Fundamental Rights its soul. But urding the Emergency, that very soul was crushed — civil liberties were suspended, voices were silenced, and the Constitution was reshaped through the 42nd Amendment, also known as the Mini Constitution, which weakened the judiciary and centralised power in the executive’s hands.
Thousands of political leaders were jailed without trial. Among them were Sharaddheya Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji, Former Deputy PM Bharat Ratna Hon Lal Krishna Advani ji, and George Fernandes. George Fernandes himself became a symbol of resistance, accused of a conspiracy and paraded in chains and because of this his family was tortured.
Media was no exception during the Emergency — it was gagged, censored, and forced to submit content for approval before publishing. Fear replaced freedom.
Even my own father, Gangadharrao Fadnavis, was imprisoned for standing up against the authoritarian regime — one among many who chose jail over silence.
Yet, the Emergency couldn’t break the spirit of democracy. In 1977, the people of India gave a powerful reply through the ballot. Today, regardless of political differences, no one dares to violate the Fundamental Rights of citizens — a lasting legacy of those who resisted.
In Maharashtra, the Emergency Honorarium Scheme, reinstated in May 2025, continues to support those imprisoned — or their surviving spouses — during 1975–77. The Government has assured that this tribute to their sacrifice will never be discontinued.
DCM Eknath Shinde ji, Deputy Chairperson of the Legislative Council of Maharashtra, Dr Neelam Gorhe, Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha ji, Minister Adv Ashish Shelar, Minister Ashok Uike and other dignitaries were present.
#Maharashtra #Mumbai #SamvidhanHatyaDiwas
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