PM Modi recalls ‘black night’ of Emergency

Reminding the nation of the “black night” of Emergency, which was imposed 41 years back, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday asserted that democracy is the country’s strength and that this commitment needs to be taken further. He said the “shining example of democratic powers of a common citizen” was seen during Emergency and “it should keep reminding the nation again and again”.

Speaking on the Emergency imposed by the then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, on his monthly radio programme, Mann ki Baat, he said, “Sometimes some people mock at my Mann ki Baat programme and even criticise it. This is possible because we are committed to democracy... Today when I am talking to you on June 26, we should not forget that our strength is democracy, our strength is people’s strength and our strength is every citizen. We have to take this commitment further and strengthen it.”

Mr Modi said that democracy, which empowers every citizen, had been suppressed on this day in 1975.

“The morning of June 26, 1975, was such a black night when Emergency was imposed on the country. All rights of the citizens were taken away. The country was turned into a prison. Along with Jayaprakash Narayan, lakhs of people and thousands of politicians were sent to jail,” he recalled.

“When the newspaper offices are sealed and the radio speaks only voice, people on the other hand make you realise the power of democratic forces. This is a big strength for any nation,” he said in an apparent reference to the Emergency.

“I keep saying that democracy does not mean that you vote and give a contract of five years to run the country. Voting is a crucial part of democracy, but there are several other aspects too. The biggest aspect is people’s participation — the pulse of the people, the thinking of the people. The more governments associate with the people, the more is the country strengthened,” he said.

Referring to his government completing two years, the PM said some “modern-thinking youth” had thrown a “kind of challenge”, asking him to get his government’s performance assessed by the people. He said when he mentioned this to his senior colleagues, they said it can be misused and a survey can be taken anywhere. “They expressed concern. But I thought the risk should be taken. A try should be given. Let us see what happens,” Mr Modi said.

Three lakh people gave answers to all the questions, he said, contending that the sample size is bigger than the ones in surveys carried out after elections. He said he would not go into the result of the survey as he left it to the media to do so.

“So, did you see There was a day some years ago when the voice of the countrymen was muzzled on June 26 and there is a time when the people themselves decide whether the government is performing well or badly. This is the strength of democracy,” he said.