The HRD minister, Prakash Javadekar, speaking at a Delhi BJP function today, termed the 1975 Emergency period as a ‘black period’ and an assault on democracy of the country. He said that his ministry would work to include some content on it in textbooks to make the new generation aware about it. Terming it the darkest phase in Indian democracy, Javadekar said some columns and chapters on Emergency will be reviewed and more chapters will be included.
Javadekar also spoke of facilitating the party men who were jailed during the Emergency announced on June 25, 1975, by the Indira Gandhi-led Congress regime. Javadekar said that Congress President Rahul Gandhi should seek apology before talking about freedom of press and judiciary in the country.
Javadekar said that though now Emergency appeared to be a mere term, it was actually a “tale of bravery” and a “festival of struggle” that was fought for ending the era of restrainment and curtailment of rights. Recapitulating the Emergency period, Javadekar praised the then Jan Sangh veterans for the sacrifices they made to fight for the rights of the people, and for keeping the interest of the people of the nation over theirs.
Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi also said that chapter on Emergency should be included in textbook. Referring to the Emergency as a ‘dirty deceit against democracy’, Naqvi said a chapter needs to be included as younger generation needs to be made aware about the atrocities and torture committed during the period which witnessed destruction of the soul of the democracy and the Constitution. He further added that ‘Inclusion of the chapter on the Emergency in the text books will be a strong and effective message of power of democratic values against the dictatorial mindset.’