Jaishankar Says Congress Yet To Apologise For Emergency; Calls It ‘Murder Of Constitution’

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar strongly criticised the Congress party for failing to express remorse over the imposition of the Emergency in 1975, even after fifty years.

At a Mock Parliament event organised by the Delhi BJP, Jaishankar described the Emergency as a blatant violation of constitutional values, marking it as a dark chapter in Indian democracy.

“Some people go around carrying a copy of the Constitution, but they have little respect for it in their hearts. Has the Congress ever apologised for the Emergency?” he asked pointedly, in what appeared to be a reference to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who often publicly displays a pocket-sized Constitution.

Jaishankar asserted that mere symbolism is not enough. “Holding a copy of the Constitution does not achieve anything. It should be in your heart and mind,” he remarked, reinforcing the idea that constitutional values must be upheld through actions, not gestures.

A lesson for the youth

Jaishankar urged young people to understand that the Emergency occurred because a family prioritised its own interests over those of the nation.

He added that the nation today stands in contrast to that era, with an emphasis on placing the country’s interest above all else.

He emphasised that educators and citizens must teach the younger generation how the Emergency trampled on democracy and the Constitution, and how it crushed media freedoms.

Referring to India’s recent diplomatic outreach following the Pahalgam terror attack, the Minister expressed pride in the unified front presented by Indian delegations abroad, comprising both ruling and opposition party members.

“I feel proud when I see delegations with leaders like Shashi Tharoor, Supriya Sule, Sanjay Jha, and Kanimozhi Karunanidhi speaking with one voice against terrorism,” he noted.

Jaishankar said foreign counterparts particularly appreciated the bipartisan unity displayed in defending India’s stand on terrorism.

The Emergency, imposed by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi through Article 352 of the Constitution, lasted from 25 June 1975 to 21 March 1977.

It saw the suspension of civil liberties, censorship of the media, undermining of judicial independence, and imprisonment of thousands of citizens without trial.

Jaishankar concluded by urging the public to engage more actively and learn about this period, emphasising that the nation must never again compromise the values of democracy and constitutional integrity.

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