Tharoor's Article on Emergency Irks Congress

Amidst the discussions of increasing distance from Congress and increasing closeness with BJP, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has written an article on Emergency-1975. In the article, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has strongly criticized the decision of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He termed Indira Gandhi's decision of emergency as the cruelest decision. While he has praised the government of current PM Narendra Modi. Congress has not yet reacted to this article of Tharoor. However, it is believed that Congress will get 'irritated'.

In the emergency article, Shashi Tharoor wrote that the emergency imposed by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi fifty years ago showed how freedom is snatched away. Initially, slowly, small freedoms are snatched away in the name of good or bad purposes. Therefore, this is a strong warning and supporters of democracy should always be vigilant. He said that the Emergency also shows how the world remained unaware of the 'violation of human rights'.

In the article published by Project Syndicate, Tharoor said that the authoritarian approach of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi pushed public life into a state of fear and repression. Tharoor wrote that the Emergency imposed by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi fifty years ago showed how freedom is snatched away. Tharoor wrote, 'Indira Gandhi emphasized that tough measures were necessary, only a state of emergency could deal with internal disorder and external threats, and bring discipline and efficiency to a chaotic country. In the Emergency that lasted for about two years from June 1975 to March 1977, civil liberties were suspended and opposition leaders were jailed.

He said that the ruthless demolition of slums in urban centers like Delhi left thousands of people homeless and no concern was given to their welfare. He wrote that the Emergency offered a vivid example of how fragile democratic institutions can be, even in a country where they appear to be strong. It reminded us that a government can lose its moral compass and sense of accountability to the people it claims to serve.

Tharoor said the judiciary also succumbed to enormous pressure, as the Supreme Court suspended the right to habeas corpus and civil liberties. He said, "Journalists, activists and opposition leaders were found behind bars. Widespread constitutional violations led to a horrific series of human rights abuses."