VP Jagdeep Dhankhar: ‘Samvidhan Hatya Diwas’ a Reminder to Never Forget the Emergency’s Darkness

By A Staff Reporter

Nainital, Uttarakhand: Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, speaking on the occasion of 'Samvidhan Hatya Diwas'—observed by the BJP to mark the 50th anniversary of the Emergency—underscored the importance of remembering the dark chapter in India's democratic history and educating the younger generation about its dangers.

“Young people cannot forget or afford not to learn about that darkest period,” Dhankhar said, referring to the 21-month Emergency imposed by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975. “Very thoughtfully, the government of the day decided that this day would be celebrated as ‘Samvidhan Hatya Diwas’. The celebration will be that it (Emergency) will never happen again,” he added.

The Vice President emphasized that the observance should serve as a collective commitment to constitutional values and a reminder of those who enabled the suspension of civil liberties and the erosion of democratic rights. He cited the extraordinary dissent of Supreme Court Justice HR Khanna, who stood alone in opposing the ruling that denied citizens the right to life and liberty during the Emergency.

“A leading newspaper in the US had remarked that if ever democracy returns to 'Bharat', a monument will surely be built for HR Khanna, who held his ground,” Dhankhar noted, highlighting Khanna’s solitary stand as a beacon of judicial integrity.