The Emergency — Indian Democracy’s Darkest Hour, a book written by A Surya Prakash, chairman of Prashar Bharati, was released by Union Minister for Urban Development and Information & Broadcasting Venkaiah Naidu and Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani at Ahmedabad on Saturday.
The book was launched at a conference to mark the anniversary of the Emergency and to honour all those who fought for restoration of democracy in the country in the mid-1970s. The event was organised by MeghNirghosh Media ltd.
At the event, speakers spoke on those dreadful 19 months when India came under a dictatorship, and paid tribute to all those who fought valiantly to put democracy back on the rails. The book release function started with the message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
‘‘The title rightly describe emergency as a dark hour in the history of independent India. We can never forget the manner in which personal liberties, freedom of expression and media freedom were curtailed during the emergency,’’ said Prime Minister Modi in a written message.
In his speech, Naidu said that Ahmedabad was the appropriate place to release the book as anti-corruption movement Navnirman initiated in Gujarat was the cause for the emergency. He said Gujarat had shown the way that a non-Congress Government could be formed as the first such Government Janata Morcha was formed ahead of the emergency.
‘‘Young generation must know what is emergency, why it was formed and why it was lifted. This book is reflecting the various aspect of emergency. Surya Prakash is the right person to write the book,’’ said the Minister.
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who was behind the bar during emergency under Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA), termed June 25, 1975, the day emergency was declared, as the darkest day of democracy. Rupani said then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi announced emergency to save her Government and sent lakhs of people in jail.
‘‘Modi too was underground to avoid his arrest and active in movement against emergency. Due to sacrifice of lots of people during those days democracy still exist. Emergency was nothing but anti-democracy mentality to continue dynastic rule in India,” said Gujarat CM.
During the function, senior leader of the RSS Dattatreya Hosabale and senior BJP leader and MP Subramanian Swamy were present.