Srinagar, 26 June (H.S.): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Jammu & Kashmir, observed “Black Day” across all district units on the anniversary of the imposition of Emergency in 1975, a dark chapter in India’s democratic history.
As part of the statewide observation, J&K BJP President Sat Sharma led a programme at Akhnoor, where he addressed a gathering of party workers and citizens. He inaugurated an exhibition showcasing the horrors and atrocities committed during the Emergency era.
Prominent leaders present on the occasion included former Prabhari Brijeshwar Singh Rana, District President Kuldeep Sharma, DDC Vice-Chairperson Suraj Singh, former MLA Rajiv Sharma, DDCs Suresh Sharma, Sharda Bhau, Bhushan Bral, Seh-Prabhari Manmohan Singh, former VC Daljit Singh Chib, Jagdish Bhagat, Mandal Presidents, and other senior party functionaries.
While addressing the gathering, Sat Sharma emphasized that the Emergency, imposed overnight under the pretext of internal disturbances, despite the absence of war or national crisis, was an unconstitutional move by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. “This day is a reminder of the darkest hour in India’s democratic journey. The Congress party used the Emergency as a tool to suppress dissent, arrest opposition’s voices, and destroy democratic institutions,” he said.
J&K BJP General Secretary and Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma addressed a similar programme by District Jammu unit of the party at Kachi Chawni office. He was accompanied by BJP MLAs Yudhvir Sethi and Arvind Gupta, former Minister Priya Sethi, and Chief Spokesperson Adv Sunil Sethi.
Speaking on the occasion, Sunil Sharma condemned the Emergency as the darkest chapter in India’s democratic history. “Today, we mark Black Day to remember how Congress trampled upon democracy, suspended civil liberties, and pushed the nation into an era of dictatorship. The same Congress now pretends to uphold the Constitution it once betrayed,” Sharma said.
Yudhvir Sethi stated that the Emergency was a direct attack on every citizen’s rights and freedom. “Those who talk of saving the Constitution today had once torn it to shreds for power. BJP will continue to educate the new generation about these misdeeds,” he asserted.
Arvind Gupta reminded the gathering that the Emergency was not just a political blunder but a humanitarian crisis. “We must never forget the forced sterilizations, press gagging, and custodial torture that happened. The youth of today must be told the truth.”
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Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar
