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Key Points

Shashi Tharoor has described the 1975 Emergency as India's darkest democratic chapter in a recent op-ed. The Congress leader warned against executive overreach while praising India's democratic resilience today. His remarks come ahead of Parliament's Monsoon Session, likely to spark political debates. Tharoor's critique may create tensions within Congress while giving BJP ammunition against the party.

Key Points: Shashi Tharoor Calls 1975 Emergency India's Darkest Chapter

  • Tharoor warns against executive overreach threatening democracy
  • Highlights media freedom as key to accountability
  • Notes judicial independence as democracy's safeguard
  • Acknowledges India's democratic progress since 1975
2 min read

Tharoor terms Emergency a dark chapter in country's history, says 'India of today is not that of 1975'

Congress leader Tharoor terms Emergency a dark phase, warns against taking democracy for granted while acknowledging India's progress since 1975.

"Democracies depend on an independent judiciary able to serve as a bulwark against executive overreach. - Shashi Tharoor"

New Delhi, July 10

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Thursday called 1975 Emergency a dark chapter in India’s history and added that this should serve as a reminder for everyone and everywhere, that democracy cannot be taken for granted.

In a strongly-worded Op-Ed in a leading daily, the Congress MP said that the Emergency, imposed in 1975, demonstrated how fragile democratic institutions can be trampled upon, even in a country where they are ostensibly robust and reminded us that a government can lose its moral compass and sense of accountability to the people, it purports to serve.

Tharoor’s sharp criticism of the Emergency comes in the backdrop of nation recently observing 50 years of the Emergency imposed during the Congress regime, when rights of citizens were taken away, people’s voices crushed, media freedom muzzled and judiciary silenced.

The Emergency was imposed by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on June 25, 1975 and it stayed in place for next 20 months, curtailing and crushing the basic rights of citizens.

Tharoor, having served as Under-Secretary General at United Nations earlier, also drew three lessons from the Emergency, for the new generation.

Outlining freedom of information and independent press as the first lesson, he said, “When the fourth estate is besieged, the public is deprived of the information it needs to hold political leaders accountable.”

“Democracies depend on an independent judiciary able and willing to serve as a bulwark against executive overreach. Judicial capitulation – even when temporary – can have severe and far-reaching consequences,” he added.

He further said that an overweening executive, backed by a legislative majority, can pose a grave danger to democracy, especially when that executive is convinced of its own infallibility and impatient with the checks and balances that are essential to democratic systems.

The Congress leader also highlighted that ‘India of today is not that of 1975’ and added that today we are a more confident, more prosperous, and, in many ways, a more robust democracy.

Tharoor’s criticism of Emergency and tacit acknowledgement of robust democracy under the current government is set to trigger fresh political fireworks in the power corridors, as this comes days ahead of upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament, beginning July 21.

His Op-Ed is set to create fresh heartburn in the Congress while BJP will look to further corner the grand old party over acknowledgement of Emergency as the darkest era, from one of its own veteran leaders.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
While I appreciate Tharoor's honesty, we must remember that today's India faces new challenges to democracy - be it media bias or political polarization. The lessons from 1975 are relevant but we need to stay vigilant against modern threats too.
A
Aman W
Tharoor sahab is right but selective in his criticism. What about the current attacks on judiciary and media freedom? Democracy is not just about elections but also about protecting institutions from all sides.
S
Shreya B
As a young Indian who only read about Emergency in textbooks, this honest reflection is eye-opening. We must cherish our freedoms and never take them for granted. Kudos to Tharoor for speaking up! 🙌
V
Vikram M
The BJP will milk this statement for political gains, but let's not forget they too have authoritarian tendencies. Democracy needs strong opposition, not one-party dominance. Tharoor's words should make all parties introspect.
N
Nisha Z
My grandparents still get emotional talking about those dark days. It's good that younger leaders are acknowledging past mistakes, but actions speak louder than words. Will Congress officially condemn the Emergency now?
K
Karan T
Tharoor is one of the few sensible voices in Congress today. But will his party listen? Or will they

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