Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has strongly criticised the 1975 Emergency declared by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, calling it “a dark chapter” in Indian history. While the party has not officially reacted, the uneasy calm in Congress over Tharoor and his comments has been evident for quite some time now.
In an article published on Thursday in Malayalam daily ‘Deepika’, Tharoor reflected on the 21-month period between June 25, 1975, and March 21, 1977, citing excesses that followed the imposition of Emergency and the people’s verdict that eventually voted Gandhi out of power.
Tharoor, a member of the Congress Working Committee, said, “Sanjay Gandhi, the son of Indira Gandhi, led forced sterilisation campaigns, which became a notorious example of this. In poor rural areas, violence and coercion were used to meet arbitrary targets. In cities like New Delhi, slums were mercilessly demolished and cleared. Thousands of people were rendered homeless. Their welfare was not taken into consideration.”
He further criticised Indira Gandhi, often referred to by the Congress and the Nehru family as the “Iron Lady”, for endorsing harsh actions during the Emergency. “Some may argue that the Emergency brought about a temporary order and offered brief relief from the disorder of democratic politics. However, these violations were the result of unchecked power turning into authoritarianism. Whatever order may have emerged during the Emergency, it came at the cost of the soul of our Republic,” he wrote.
‘Enduring scar on Indian politics’
Tharoor said the period of Emergency saw serious democratic setbacks. “The silencing of dissent, the curtailment of fundamental rights such as the freedom to assemble, write, and speak freely, and the blatant disregard for constitutional laws left an enduring scar on Indian politics,” he stated. He added that while the judiciary attempted to restore the balance later, the initial damage could not be undone.
Referring to the outcome of the March 1977 general elections, Tharoor wrote, “The excesses of that period caused deep and lasting damage to countless individuals. Among the affected communities, it left behind fear and mistrust. Following the Emergency, in the first free election held in March 1977, the people responded clearly—voting Indira Gandhi and her party out of power by a large margin.”
Tharoor urged that democracy must be protected vigilantly. “Democracy is not something to be taken lightly. It is a precious legacy that must be constantly nurtured and preserved. Let it serve as a lasting reminder to people everywhere,” he said.
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A warning and Congress reaction
Tharoor said that while India has progressed since 1975, the lessons from the Emergency remain relevant. “We are a more self-confident, more developed, and in many ways a stronger democracy. Yet, the lessons of the Emergency remain relevant in troubling ways,” he wrote.
He warned, “The temptation to centralise power, silence dissent, and bypass constitutional safeguards may reappear in various forms. Often, such tendencies may be justified in the name of national interest or stability. In this sense, the Emergency stands as a strong warning. The guardians of democracy must always remain vigilant.”
When asked about Tharoor’s remarks, Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly and senior Congress leader V D Satheesan refused to comment, saying, “Tharoor is a member of the party’s Working Committee and it is the national leadership that should comment on the article he has written. I do have an opinion about the article, but I will not express it.”
Senior Congress leader K Muraleedharan said the topic of Emergency is currently not relevant. “A discussion on the Emergency was not relevant at the moment,” he stated.
(With agency inputs)
