Agartala: Tripura chief minister Manik Saha on Monday criticised Congress for imposing Emergency in 1975, calling it a “direct attack” on the Constitution and democracy.Addressing a mock parliament of the party, he said the Emergency period (1975–77) was a “black chapter” in Indian history. “We have forgotten many things, especially the days of sorrow. But one cannot live without remembering such dark times,” he added. Recalling the sequence of events that led to the declaration of Emergency, Saha said, “In 1971, Indira Gandhi contested from Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh and won. Her nearest rival, Raj Narain, challenged the result in the Allahabad High Court, alleging misuse of govt machinery and the appointment of a gazetted officer as her election agent. On June 12, 1975, Justice Jagmohan Lal Sinha declared her election null and void.“He added although Indira Gandhi appealed to the Supreme Court, Justice Krishna Iyer allowed her to continue as Prime Minister but barred her from voting or holding any official position.“Subsequently, Indira Gandhi consulted Siddhartha Shankar Ray, the then chief minister of West Bengal and a renowned barrister. Pressure was mounted on President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, and finally, Emergency was declared in 1975,” Saha said.He said the objective behind organising the mock parliament was to educate the younger generation about the Emergency and its consequences. “They must know how democracy was throttled. It’s their responsibility to spread this awareness further,” he added.Saha also recalled the situation in Tripura during the Emergency. “The then chief minister Sukhamoy Sengupta misused the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) to arrest many people, including journalists. Homes were vandalised, dissenters jailed, and press freedom crushed,” he said. Drawing a contrast with the present, he said, “Today, we are witnessing what real development means. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, efforts are being made to uphold and protect the Constitution.”
