Ranchi, Jun 25 (PTI) Senior Jharkhand BJP leader Raghubar Das on Wednesday urged the Union Government to include the ‘Emergency’ period in the school curriculum to make future generations aware of its history.
Das, a former chief minister, said that he had participated in the student movement against the Emergency, was detained in Sakchi Jail for a month, and later sent to Gaya Central Jail.
The Emergency declared on June 25, 1975, by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi lasted until March 21, 1977. It was marked by widespread press censorship, arrests without trial and the stifling of dissent in academia, politics and civil society.
The BJP-led central government has decided to observe June 25 as the ‘Samvidhaan Hatya Diwas’ to commemorate the “massive contributions” of those who endured “inhuman pain” during the period.
“I urge the central government to include the Emergency period in every school’s curriculum so that future generations can understand what happened during that time,” Das said while addressing media persons in Jamshedpur.
“The Congress party is misleading people in the name of Samvidhan Bachao rallies. People of the country know that it is the same party which was in power in 1975,” he said.
Jharkhand BJP chief and Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi termed the Emergency the “darkest chapter” in the history of Indian democracy.
On June 25, 1975, “the sanctity of the Constitution was disregarded, and freedom of expression, press freedom, and civil rights were suppressed,” Marandi said in a post on X.
“Press freedom was suppressed, the opposition was jailed, and civil rights were abolished, all to maintain one family’s political dominance,” he claimed. PTI SAN NN
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