New Delhi, June 25: Amid opposition criticism over the National Council of Educational Research and Training’s (NCERT) decision to include a chapter on the 1975 Emergency in school textbooks, BJP National Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on Wednesday defended the move, saying students must learn about the period to ensure that such a chapter in India’s history is never repeated.
Speaking on the 51st anniversary of the Emergency imposed on June 25, 1975, Poonawalla described it as the “darkest chapter” in India’s democratic and constitutional journey. He alleged that the Emergency was imposed by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and the Congress government to retain power, resulting in widespread curbs on democratic institutions and civil liberties.
“The Emergency marked the darkest chapter of India’s democratic and constitutional history. Constitutional institutions, including Parliament, the judiciary and the media, were attacked. Fundamental rights were suspended, and even the right to judicial review was taken away,” Poonawalla said.
He further alleged that media censorship was imposed during the period and that dissenting voices were suppressed. Referring to the restrictions imposed during the Emergency, he said the country witnessed unprecedented excesses that should serve as a lesson for future generations.
Welcoming NCERT’s decision to include a chapter on the Emergency under the theme of threats to democracy, Poonawalla said students should be made aware of the events of 1975 so they can understand the importance of constitutional values and democratic safeguards.
“We must not only remember this dark chapter in India’s constitutional history but also ensure that such mistakes are never repeated. Those who fail to learn from history are condemned to repeat it,” he said.
Targeting the Congress, Poonawalla questioned the party’s opposition to the inclusion of the Emergency chapter in textbooks. He said those who claim to be champions of the Constitution should support efforts to educate students about the mistakes of the past.
“If you are truly committed to protecting the Constitution, you should welcome this initiative and encourage young people to learn from history,” he added.
Poonawalla also referred to leaders and political groups that had opposed the Emergency, including those associated with Jayaprakash Narayan, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Lalu Prasad Yadav, and said it was ironic that some of their political successors now stand alongside the Congress despite its role during the Emergency.
The inclusion of the Emergency in NCERT textbooks has sparked a political debate, with opposition parties raising objections over the content and presentation of the chapter. The issue has once again brought the legacy of the Emergency period into the national spotlight.
