Chandigarh, June 25, 2025: On the occasion marking 50 years since the imposition of the Emergency in India on June 25, 1975, Hon’ble Governor of Haryana, Shri Bandaru Dattatraya, issued a poignant reflection on one of the most turbulent chapters in India’s democratic journey.

Recalling it as “the darkest day in the history of independent India,” Governor Shri Dattatraya underlined the widespread curtailment of civil liberties and democratic rights during the 21-month period of Emergency.

He emphasized that the move to suspend democracy was triggered by the political unrest following the Allahabad High Court’s verdict invalidating then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s 1971 election due to electoral malpractice. The decision sparked nationwide protests and mass mobilizations led by stalwarts like Jayaprakash Narayan.

In his statement, Governor Shri Dattatraya highlighted the severe economic hardships and political repression of the time. “Over one lakh citizens were detained under preventive detention laws like MISA and DIR. The press was muzzled, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) was banned, and voices of dissent – be it political leaders, journalists, or students – were silenced,” he noted.

Hon’ble Governor Shri Dattatraya, who was then an RSS Pracharak in the Nizamabad and Adilabad region (then Andhra Pradesh, now Telangana), recounted his personal experiences of resisting the Emergency. “To evade arrest, I changed my name to Dharmendra and went underground, donning western clothes. Along with other volunteers, I distributed underground bulletins to inform citizens and support families of detained leaders,” he recalled.

Despite efforts to remain anonymous, he was eventually arrested in Bellampally and jailed under MISA at Chanchalguda Central Jail in Hyderabad. There, he shared space with individuals from varied ideological backgrounds – from future Union Ministers to activists and even Naxalites. “There was a silent camaraderie among all of us imprisoned unjustly. Our unity came from our common commitment to restoring democracy,” he said.

One memory that continues to inspire him was the optimism sparked by the 1977 election results. “The announcement that Mrs. Indira Gandhi and Sanjay Gandhi were trailing was a turning point. The air in the jail was electric with hope,” he recounted, as he remembered his fellow inmate Advocate Raja Bose’s rendition of ‘Savere Wali Gaadi Se Chale Jayenge,’ sung in joy.

The Emergency, he said, shaped his life profoundly. “I emerged from prison with a new perspective on politics, democracy, and public service. I learnt the importance of standing firm for constitutional values and of nurturing democratic institutions.”

Governor Shri Dattatraya urged the people of India, especially the youth, to stay vigilant and protect the democratic ethos of the nation. “Our democracy has withstood severe tests, thanks to the resilience of our people. Let us never forget the sacrifices made and ensure that such a chapter is never repeated,” he concluded.

He reiterated the importance of further strengthening all four pillars of democracy – the legislature, executive, judiciary, and the media – to ensure that India remains a vibrant, free, and fair society.

Chandigarh, June 25 – Haryana Health and Family Welfare Minister Arti Singh Rao met with citizens at her official residence in Chandigarh, where she  listened to the concerns and grievances raised by the public regarding health services and other issues.

During the interaction, the Minister assured the people that their problems would be addressed on priority and instructed the concerned departmental officers to take immediate and effective action. She emphasized the importance of responsiveness and accountability in the health system, directing officials to resolve each issue within the defined time frame.

Arti Singh Rao reiterated the government’s commitment to improving healthcare delivery and ensuring that citizens receive timely, transparent, and quality services. “The government is committed to ensuring that healthcare services reach every corner of Haryana. No grievance should go unheard or unresolved. Our aim is to deliver prompt, transparent, and efficient services to every citizen,” the Minister added.

Chandigarh, June 25– Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini while launching a scathing  attack on the opposition, saying that Undermining the core values of the Constitution is in the DNA of the Congress, even though they pretend to be its protectors. Even today, they attempt to disrespect the Constitution by giving statements such as restoring Article 370 if they come to power, he said.

The Chief Minister said that unlike Congress, under the leadership of Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi, the country has been governed in accordance with the Constitution for the past 11 years since 2014, and people have witnessed a truly independent India.

The Chief Minister was addressing the Samvidhan Hatya Diwas, program held  in Karnal on Wednesday, marking the 50th anniversary of the imposition of Emergency– a dark chapter in Indian democracy.

Atrocities were committed on the public to fulfill political motives

The Chief Minister said that June 25 reminds us of how, at midnight, the government imposed Emergency, and innocent citizens were arrested and tortured. The brutality still sends chills down our spines. The decision was made purely to fulfill the political will of those in power, driven by arrogance, thinking “only I matter, no one else.” It was a deliberate conspiracy where the sacred Constitution was crushed for personal gain. Not once during the Emergency was the Constitution or democracy remembered. Writers and leaders who dared to raise their voices were jailed to prevent dissent, said Sh. Nayab Singh Saini. 

He added that when India gained independence, there were 562 princely states, and the responsibility of unifying them was given to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who succeeded in doing so. However, only one princely state was entrusted to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, and the consequences are well known to all, said the Chief Minister. 

Those claiming to defend the Constitution never truly respected it

The Chief Minister said that Congress never respected the Constitution. Their “Yuvraj” (referring to Rahul Gandhi) once stood in Parliament, the temple of democracy and tore up a bill, insulting the Constitution. The generations of those who now talk of defending the Constitution never respected it. Due to Congress’s flawed policies, people suffered greatly, and today, the public has decisively rejected them, he said.

Prime Minister fulfilled Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee’s dream of One Nation, One Constitution, One Flag

Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that back then, the government implemented a permit system to enter Jammu and Kashmir. Their intention was clearly to separate the region from the rest of the country. But Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee opposed this permit system, declaring that there would be no two heads of state, no two flags in India. He launched a movement and entered Jammu and Kashmir without a permit, for which he sacrificed his life. The Chief Minister further shared that only then was the permit system abolished. Still, for many years, two constitutions, two heads, and two flags continued. Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi abolished Article 370 and fulfilled Dr. Mookerjee’s dream of one Constitution, one head of state, and one national flag, he said.

Prime Minister is committed to building the India of freedom fighters’ dreams by 2047

The Chief Minister said that after independence, India did not progress at the speed it should have. A clear contrast can be seen between the 55 years of Congress rule and the 11 years of development under Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi. But Congress refuses to acknowledge this difference and continues to wave around the Constitution for political drama, he said.

The Chief Minister said that under the Prime Minister’s leadership, India has transformed and is moving ahead rapidly. The country is now aligning with the dreams of the great freedom fighters. The Prime Minister has taken a pledge that by the time India celebrates 100 years of independence in 2047, it will be a developed nation. Achieving this vision will require the contribution of every citizen, said Sh. Nayab Singh Saini.

Democracy is not just about winning elections; it is a way of life, a value system

Sh. Nayab Singh Saini emphasized that democracy is not limited to winning elections or forming governments, it is a way of life and a value system. He urged elders to inform young generations about the Emergency declared on June 25, 1975. He said that since 2014, we have had the opportunity to celebrate the birth anniversaries of our national heroes, allowing us to remember their sacrifices for the nation and humanity and to pass these stories on to the coming generations.

The Chief Minister said that today’s event is not just about reflecting on the past, it is an opportunity to prepare for the future. We must build a future where democracy thrives, the flame of freedom continues to burn, and India remains a strong and vibrant democracy on the global stage, he said.

On this occasion, the Chief Minister also visited the exhibition organized by the Department of Information, Public Relations, Language and Culture and planted a sapling in the Kalpana Chawla Medical College campus.

MLA Sh. Yogender Rana, Sh. Bhagwan Dass Kabirpanthi, Karnal Mayor, Smt. Renu Bala Gupta, Sardar Tarlochan Singh, and other dignitaries were present on this occasion.

Chandigarh, June 25 – Financial Commissioner Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Dr. Sumita Misra, said that the State Government will modernize all registration offices across the state by restructuring them on the model of Passport Seva Kendras. This initiative underscores Chief Minister, Sh, Nayab Singh Saini’s commitment to ease-of-doing-property-transactions for citizens.

She stated this while reviewing the working of the Revenue and Disaster Management Department. Dr. Misra said that the initiative will be rolled out in a phased manner, starting with high-density and high-transaction districts such as Panchkula, Gurugram, and Faridabad. She stressed that this transformation is not limited to infrastructure improvements but is part of a broader plan to strengthen service delivery, boost transparency, and increase accountability within the revenue administration.

Dr. Misra said that this new model will include citizen-centric features such as online slot booking, well-equipped waiting areas, real-time digital display systems, and dedicated helpdesks. Signage and information will be made available in local languages to further assist citizens. To address persistent issues of slow server response during registration activities, particularly at sub-divisional and tehsil levels, Dr. Misra directed the establishment of two state-level Revenue Data Centres with a storage capacity of 2 petabytes each. She directed officers to float tenders for the same within the next 10 days.

While reviewing the Haryana Large Scale Mapping Project, Dr. Misra instructed officers to complete the Tatima updation across all districts by the end of August. She stated that this exercise is crucial for accurate land demarcation and for facilitating faster and dispute-free registrations. These steps are part of the state’s broader vision to promote digital governance, improve citizen services, and ensure a corruption-free and transparent property registration system.

She apprised that till date, 418 out of 440 pilot villages (95%) across 22 districts have successfully completed their Tatima updation. This represents a substantial leap forward in land records modernization and a strong increase from the 380 villages reported on May 8, 2025, reflecting the addition of 38 villages in just over a month. Several districts have achieved 100% Tatima updation of their allotted pilot villages. These include Charkhi Dadri, Faridabad, Fatehabad, Hisar, Jind, Kaithal, Karnal, Panchkula, Panipat, Rohtak, Sirsa, and Sonipat. Gurugram also showed progress, leading in new additions with 11 new villages reaching 80% completion. The efforts have resulted in a significant increase in processed records, with a total of 3,53,680 Tatima records completed as of June 25, marking an increase of 23,005 records since May 8.

Chandigarh, 25 June – Haryana Chief Minister Sh Nayab Singh Saini stated that “Samvidhan Hatya Diwas” serves as a solemn reminder that the arrogance of power and nepotism are among the biggest threats to democracy. He emphasized that the Constitution is the supreme law of the land, and it is our paramount duty to uphold and protect it. Any action that undermines or violates its core principles cannot and should not be ignored.

Chief Minister Sh Nayab Singh Saini was addressing a press conference held in Karnal today to mark Samvidhan Hatya Diwas. He paid tribute to the brave heroes who stood up against dictatorship during the Emergency, noting that they endured imprisonment and torture but never surrendered their principles. “Today, I salute all those heroes who raised their voices for democracy,” he added.

People were jailed and tortured during the Emergency

Sh Nayab Singh Saini said that the country is observing ‘Samvidhan Hatya Diwas’ to mark 50 years since the Emergency was imposed. On June 25, 1975, the soul of the Constitution was attacked when the Emergency was declared, putting our democratic values in danger. Although it was claimed that there was an internal crisis, the real reason was a personal desire to stay in power.

For the next 21 months, the country was under dictatorship. Many people who believed in democracy were put in jail and tortured. Sh Saini said that the purpose of observing Samvidhan Hatya Diwas is to remind people especially the younger generation about the importance of democracy, and to keep everyone aware and alert about protecting our democratic system.

Haryana’s people played a key role in the struggle

He said the Emergency was not only a constitutional crisis but also an assault on the process of democracy which guarantees freedom of expression, equality and justice. It was also an attack on the ideas of Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, who gave the slogan “One Nation – One Constitution” and sacrificed his life for this cause. The Chief Minister said that the people of Haryana also stood strong in this struggle. Many people had sacrificed everything to protect democracy.

Hypocrisy of saving the constitution without true respect

The Chief Minister said that some people are going around holding the Constitution’s book, but this is just hypocrisy when it comes to truly protecting it. These same people claim that the Constitution, written by Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, is under threat. Yet, there was a time when their own party openly destroyed the Constitution under the cover of darkness. He added that those whose political predecessors imposed dictatorship on the country, suppressed the press, jailed leaders, and carried out forced sterilization cannot honestly claim to be defenders of the Constitution and democracy today. Before giving speeches about democracy, they should admit their mistakes, accept responsibility for harming democracy, and apologize to the nation.

Their ‘Save Constitution’ slogan is just political opportunism and a hunger for power

Sh Nayab Singh Saini said that their slogan of ‘Save Constitution’ is merely a symbol of political opportunism and a hunger for power. In contrast, the present government, under the strong leadership of Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi, is truly following the democratic spirit of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas’, with the Constitution held as supreme. Every action taken by the government aims to strengthen the Constitution. Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi has also emphasized that democratic values and the Constitution remain our highest priority.

 Congress misused Section 356 over 90 times to dismiss State Governments

He said that the party which crushed democracy during the Emergency is again trying to spread confusion in the society by invoking the Constitution. During the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Rahul Gandhi claimed that if the BJP returned to power, it would abolish the Constitution. However, the people of the country rejected these baseless claims and gave a strong mandate to the BJP under the leadership of Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi for the third consecutive time.

Sh Nayab Singh Saini pointed out that the history of the Congress party shows it upheld divisive policies like Article 370, misused Article 356 over 90 times to dismiss state governments, and amended the Constitution more than 75 times to serve its political interests. For them, the Constitution has never been an ideal but just a political tool. Whenever their power was threatened, they sacrificed the core values of the Constitution.

Prime Minister took historic steps to strengthen national unity and integrity

The Chief Minister said that Prime Minister Sh Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Sh Amit Shah have set historic examples for the people from strengthening the unity and integrity of the country to protecting it from external threats. Whether it is fulfilling Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee’s dream of ‘One Nation – One Constitution’ stretching from Jammu and Kashmir to Kanyakumari, or successfully eliminating terrorism and terrorists on Pakistani soil through ‘Operation Sindoor’, the whole world recognizes its strength and determination.

After the year 2014, the state government took several important decisions in honour of the Loktantra Senanis

Sh Nayab Singh Saini said that as soon as the government came to power in 2014, it began taking care of Loktantra Senanis in Haryana. The first ‘Loktantra Senani Samman Samaroh’ was organized in Rohtak on 26 June 2015. At that time, the government made many important announcements to honor the Loktantra Senanis. Following through on these promises, the government arranged medical facilities for Loktantra Senanis and their spouses, similar to those given to government employees. They also provided free travel in Haryana Roadways’ ordinary buses and a 75 percent fare waiver in Volvo buses.

He added that a monthly pension was also started for Loktantra Senanis, which has now been increased to Rs 20,000 per month. Currently, 501 Loktantra Senani and their widows in the state receive this pension, including 53 Loktantra Senani from Karnal district.

On this occasion, the Chief Minister appealed that everyone should take a pledge to always stay vigilant in protecting the Constitution and ensure that democracy is never threatened again. 

On this occasion, MLA Shri Yogendra Rana, Shri Bhagwan Das Kabirpanthi, Karnal Mayor Smt. Renu Bala Gupta, Chief Minister’s Media Secretary Shri Praveen Attre and other dignitaries were present.