VP Jagdeep Dhankhar Reflects on Emergency’s Legacy, Emphasizes Presumption of Innocence

By A Staff Reporter

New Delhi, May 1 — Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar today remarked on the long-lasting impact of the Emergency, a dark chapter in India’s history, highlighting the resilience of the Indian people in preserving democracy. Reflecting on the painful period, he said, “People often say that public memory is short and think that over time, everything will be forgotten. But that’s not the case. Have we forgotten the Emergency?”

Dhankhar noted that despite the passage of time, the scars of the Emergency remain evident in India’s collective memory. “Much time has passed, but the dark shadow of the Emergency is still visible to us today. It was the darkest period in Indian history when people were imprisoned without reason, access to the judiciary was obstructed. Fundamental rights disappeared, millions of people were thrown into jails. We haven’t forgotten this,” he stated.

Turning his focus to a more recent painful incident, Dhankhar reaffirmed his commitment to the principles of justice, particularly the presumption of innocence. “Similarly, regarding the painful incident that happened recently, I believe — and it is my firm conviction — that we must accept that every person is presumed innocent until proven guilty,” he said, stressing the importance of fairness in legal proceedings.