Hyderabad: Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao on Friday called for Emergency atrocities awareness among the younger generation, saying the 1975–77 Emergency remained the “darkest chapter in Indian democracy.”
Speaking at the release of the book Nalgonda Zilla Emergency Vyatireka Porata Yodhulu in Nalgonda, authored by Chinta Mutyala Rao, Ramchander Rao said the sacrifices of those who fought to protect democracy should be preserved for future generations.
Emergency atrocities awareness for youth
The BJP leader said there was a need to educate people, particularly young citizens, about what he described as the atrocities committed during the Emergency imposed by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Marking 50 years since the Emergency, he alleged that Indira Gandhi imposed it to safeguard her position after the Allahabad High Court judgment invalidating Indira Gandhi’s election invalidated her election.
Ramchander Rao further alleged that the Congress government suppressed democratic institutions, curtailed press freedom and jailed thousands of political activists, including workers of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, members of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, students and lawyers.
Emergency atrocities awareness in curriculum
Ramchander Rao said the Centre was incorporating lessons on the Emergency into educational curricula to ensure what he described as the “true history” of the period reached the younger generation.
He also demanded that the Congress apologise to the nation, the families of political prisoners and those who suffered during the 19-month Emergency for what he described as crushing democracy and constitutional rights.