New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday termed the 1975 emergency a ''dark chapter'' in the history of the country.
Taking to the micro-blogging site Twitter, he wrote, '' The imposition of emergency in India 47 years ago is such a dark chapter in the history of this country, which can never be forgotten.
On this day, all Indians should not only dedicate themselves to the defense of democracy but should also take a pledge to maintain the dignity of the constitution and institutions.''
Interestingly, the emergency word has become common in Indian politics after 2014. These two words are often discussed on several occasions and now children have become familiar with them.
Exactly 47 years ago today, on June 25, 1975, an emergency was imposed in the country for a period of 21 months. Congress leader Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister of the country at that time.
As per media reports, then President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed had announced the imposition of emergency under Article 352 of the Constitution at the behest of Indira Gandhi. However, it was termed controversial and undemocratic.
After the announcement of its implementation, Jayaprakash Narayan who is also known as JP politically opposed Indira Gandhi and the Emergency and termed it a dark chapter in India's democratic history.
According to historians and media reports, between 1967 and 1971, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi polarized power and politics in India with the help of a majority in Parliament.
Several reports also claimed that power was administered from the Prime Minister's Secretariat itself and all the powers of the government were concentrated inside the same secretariat.
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