In India, “the Emergency” refers to a 21-month period in 1975–77 when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi unilaterally had a state of emergency declared across the country. Officially issued by President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed under Article 352(1) of the Constitution for “internal disturbance”, the Emergency was in effect from 25 June 1975 until its withdrawal on 21 March 1977.
The order bestowed upon the prime minister the authority to rule by decree, allowing elections to be suspended and civil liberties to be curbed. For much of the Emergency, most of Gandhi’s political opponents were imprisoned and the press was censored. Several other atrocities were reported from the time, including a forced mass-sterilisation campaign spearheaded by Sanjay Gandhi, the Prime Minister’s son. The Emergency is one of the most controversial periods of independent India’s history.
आपातकाल पर आयोजित कार्यक्रम में 26 जून को लखनऊ में रहूँगा। Will attend programme on Emergency at Lucknow on June 26. pic.twitter.com/IWH2Sia8gV
— Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi (@naqvimukhtar) June 25, 2016
25 June : Me and @governorswaraj with JP – who led movement against emergency – at JPs residence 40 yrs back. pic.twitter.com/CW4TNpHdlU
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) June 25, 2016
.@rajnathsingh says Congress committed historical blunder by imposing Emergency https://t.co/UCI2jiaPCA pic.twitter.com/fjEqoIxez2
— NDTV (@ndtv) June 25, 2016
https://twitter.com/IndiaHistorypic/status/746747351704838145
Never forget June 25,if you do, it’s threat to our democracy.Indira Gandhi declared emergency on this day-Amit Shah pic.twitter.com/iZW1VvI590
— ANI (@ANI) June 25, 2016