Morung Express News
Dimapur | June 25
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Nagaland today observed the 50 years since the imposition of Emergency on June 25, 1975, with a press briefing and photo exhibition highlighting what it called the “darkest chapter in Indian democracy.”
PHED and Cooperation Minister Jacob Zhimomi, along with H. Haiying, former MLA and State BJP Vice President, addressed the media at the BJP office, Dimapur, and reaffirmed the party’s “unwavering commitment to constitutional values and democracy.”
Addressing the press, Zhimomi maintained that although the Emergency was imposed on the pretext of “internal disturbance,” it was in fact “not due to war or rebellion, but out of desperation to retain power” after the election of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was “annulled.”
“In this dark chapter, the Congress party not only trampled democratic institutions but also crushed press freedom, judicial impartiality, and the fundamental rights of citizens—clearly showing that whenever their power is threatened, they do not hesitate to disregard the Constitution and the soul of the nation,” he added.
Among many of the actions listed by Zhimomi during the ‘dark chapter,’ he highlighted how “overnight electricity to the press was cut off, leaders were detained, and on the morning of 26 June, the country was informed of the dictatorship via radio.”
“Article 352 of the Constitution was misused to trample democracy and both Parliament and the judiciary were rendered powerless,” he added.
Highlighting the need to raise public awareness, especially among youth, the BJP emphasised that the Emergency remains “evidence of Congress's mindset” and concluded that “remembering the Emergency after 50 years is important because it is not just a historical event but evidence of Congress's mindset.”
“Even after 50 years, Congress continues with the same mindset—only the methods have changed, but the intent remains equally dictatorial,” the Minister alleged.
To buttress his points, he maintained that “spreading misinformation against the government on social media and tarnishing the country's image on international platforms has become Congress's new 'digital Emergency' strategy.”
“Remembering the Emergency after 50 years is important because it is not just a historical event but evidence of Congress's mindset,” he asserted.
Zhimomi also alleged that the mindset of the Congress party and the Gandhi family continues to revolve around the belief that ‘they alone are the nation,’ which is why even a clear public mandate is perceived by them as a ‘crisis of democracy.’
Meanwhile, later in an update on X (formerly Twitter), Zhimomi stated that “June 25th is a reminder of the grave assault on the country's hard fought, deeply rooted and cherished constitutional and democratic values.”
“The very soul of Indian democracy was shaken to the core…” he maintained, adding that “the country bears the scars of the Congress party's misadventures to this day.”
On the occasion, Zhimomi also “inaugurated the photo exhibition highlighting the atrocities of the Emergency.”
The BJP Nagaland also updated that a Mock Parliament was organised by Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), Nagaland, with Party National VP M. Chuba Ao as the inaugural guest. He was joined by State President Benjamin Yepthomi and BJYM National Executive Member Arvind Damani.
The Mock Parliament “rekindled the true spirit of democracy and constitutional values,” it added.
