NEW DELHI: On the 50th anniversary of the declaration of Emergency on June 25, 1975, the Delhi government observed the day as “Constitution Betrayal Day,” organising a special exhibition at Central Park, Connaught Place. The exhibition was inaugurated by Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.
The special exhibition featured never-before-seen documents and detention orders from the Emergency period (1975-77). In her address, Gupta condemned the policies of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s government, calling them cruel, dictatorial, and insensitive. “The Emergency, which lasted for 21 months, saw lakhs of people imprisoned without reason. There were no appeals, no hearings—this was the darkest chapter in Indian democracy,” she said.
The CM also took a sharp dig at Congress leaders, accusing them of hypocrisy. “Today, they walk around with copies of the Constitution, even though it was they who violated and disrespected it during the Emergency,” she added.
Reflecting on the struggles of those who resisted the authoritarian regime, the chief minister praised prominent figures such as Atal Bihari Vajpayee, LK Advani, Madan Lal Khurana and Balraj Madhok.
She assured the public that “such dark days would never return”, emphasising that the people will not tolerate any such “dictatorial attempts.”
Gupta also announced a year-long series of programs to honour the democracy fighters of 1975, calling them the “true sons of Mother India.” Minister Kapil Mishra, who was also present, said “The documents on display show how democracy was murdered.”