BY shashank Pasupuleti
BJP Legal Cell Observes 50 Years Since Emergency with Reflections on Democracy and Freedom
Hyderabad, June 25, 2025
The BJP Legal Cell organized a commemorative meeting at the BJP State Office today, marking the 50th anniversary of the declaration of Emergency in India. The event, titled “50 Years of Emergency – Murder of Democracy by Congress”, brought together legal professionals, party leaders, and activists to reflect on the political and constitutional disruptions caused by the Emergency imposed on June 25, 1975.
The meeting featured key addresses by Sri Chandrashekar, State General Secretary (Organisation), N Ramchander Rao, former MLC, and K. Sunil Goud. The leaders shared strong concerns over the erosion of democratic principles during the Emergency era.
Sri Ramchander Rao, in his address, described the Emergency as one of the darkest chapters in India’s democratic history. He stated that June 25 serves as a powerful reminder of how unchecked power can threaten constitutional freedoms. He criticized the Congress party for suppressing civil liberties and undermining institutional integrity.
Rao recounted specific instances of media censorship, such as restrictions on All India Radio and the unofficial ban on playback singer Kishore Kumar. He also highlighted the coercive family planning drives that targeted even unmarried individuals, and the arrest of political leaders like Lalu Prasad Yadav. He pointed to the irony that some who opposed the Emergency later aligned with Congress due to political motives.
K. Sunil Goud vice chairman TS bar council added that the wounds of the Emergency still linger in the minds of many, and the lessons from that time must never be forgotten.
Ashok from BGYM raised the demand for a constitutional scheme or recognition for Emergency-era detainees, similar to the benefits provided by states like Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka. He noted that a request had recently been submitted to the Chief Minister of Delhi to honor those who were imprisoned during the Emergency, referring to the movement as the “second freedom struggle” after August 15, 1947.
The meeting was coordinated by G Rama Rao, Convener of the BJP Legal Cell. The event also saw active participation from Shivanand (Qutbullapur Legal Cell), Bhaskar (Secunderabad Legal Cell), Ashok (BGYM), Amulya Reddy (Ranga Reddy Social Media Team), along with legal professionals B. Sathyam and Suman.
The gathering served as both a remembrance and a renewed commitment by the BJP Legal Cell to uphold the values of the Constitution and protect the democratic spirit of the nation.
