PM Modi & BJP observe 25th of June as ‘black day of democracy’ TODAY

Besides comparing former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to German dictator Adolf Hitler, the Modi led BJP government has decided to observe the 25^th of June as the black day of democracy.

Calling the 1975-77 Emergency as a “dark day” on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the nation could never forget it and called for making democracy stronger by “writing, debating, deliberating, and questioning” it’s vital aspects.

India remembers the Emergency as a dark period during which every institution was subverted and an atmosphere of fear was created. Not only people but also ideas and artistic freedom were held hostage to power politics.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 26, 2018

Modi hailed the spirit of those citizens who firmly opposed the Emergency that came into force on June 25, 1975, leading to the suspension of the fundamental rights.

BUT WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF JUNE 25^TH

43 years ago, on June 25, 1975, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi clamped a national emergency that’s been termed the darkest day of Indian democracy.

This was the third national emergency (the first one was in 1962 when China invaded India while the second one was in 1971 during the war with Pakistan), and the only one to be declared citing of “internal disturbances”.

During the 1975 emergency opposition leaders were arrested, elections postponed, anti-government protests crushed and press censored. Some laws were rewritten to suit the government.

READ ALSO: PM Modi backs Jaitley’s comparison of Indira Gandhi to Hitler

1975 vs 2018: Can India see a repeat of the emergency of 1975?

Highly unlikely because:

Congress party had an absolute majority in both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha (352 of 523 seats) in 1971. The current government lacks the numbers in Rajya Sabha

Regional parties have a strong presence in many states, that wasn’t the case in 1975

States are also more independent than earlier—financially and politically

Judiciary isn’t as pliant to the government as it was in 1975 when the right to life and liberty was suspended

Article 352 that gives emergency powers to the President has more legal safeguards now

It’s not so easy to control the flow of information because of social media and connectivity

India is more connected to the world than it was 43 years ago and global pressure can be a deterrent.