‘Direct attack on Constitution’: President invokes Emergency in Parliament

27 Jun 2024 Evaluate

A day after Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla invoked Emergency in his address to the Parliament, President Droupadi Murmu also mentioned the Emergency, calling it the ‘biggest and the darkest’ chapter in the history.

While addressing both Houses of Parliament, Droupadi Murmu said the country plunged into chaos during the Emergency and said attempts to ‘tarnish’ democracy should be condemned by everyone. President said, ‘Today is 27th June. The imposition of Emergency on June 25, 1975, was the biggest and darkest chapter of the direct attack on the Constitution. The entire country felt outraged. But the country emerged victorious over such unconstitutional forces as the traditions of the republic lie at the core of India’. She further added, ‘The Constitution of India withstood all hurdles that came its way when it was being formulated and implemented. It also overcame attacks that it faced after independence, in the form of the National Emergency imposed in the country 50 years ago’.

President Murmu also mentioned how the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government is aimed towards protecting the Constitution. she also referred about the alleged paper leaks and irregularities leading to cancellation of UGC-NET, postponement of CSIR UGC-NET and NEET PG, and some retests of NEET (UG) 2024. Murmu said there would be a fair probe into such NEET and NET cases and that the guilty would be punished. The Emergency was imposed on midnight of 25-26 June 1975 by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. This year marks the 49th anniversary of the imposition of National Emergency.