JAMMU: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s unwavering commitment to democracy has brought healing to the scars of the Emergency, which Union Minister Jitendra Singh described as a “black spot” in the history of independent India. Singh stated that PM Modi’s legacy will forever be associated with laying a robust foundation for India’s democracy, ensuring that the benefits of democracy reach every individual without discrimination.
During a meeting with intellectuals to commemorate the completion of nine years of the Narendra Modi government, Singh proclaimed that India’s moment has arrived and that it is India’s decade and century. Quoting the Prime Minister, Singh acknowledged that the Emergency imposed in 1975 had trampled and suppressed democracy. However, due to democracy being an integral part of India’s DNA, the nation emerged unscathed from that dark period in its post-independence history.
“India is indeed the mother of democracies. Democracy flows in the spirit and veins of every common Indian,” remarked Singh. He lauded Prime Minister Modi for his steadfast commitment to democracy, which has helped heal the wounds inflicted by the Emergency, an unfortunate chapter in independent India’s past. The Emergency was declared on this day in 1975 by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Singh emphasized the importance of evaluating the “dark period of Emergency” so that the younger generation can comprehend the true meaning and significance of democracy, its value, and the sacrifices made by previous generations to protect and sustain it. Appreciating the dedication of leaders and the masses who resisted the imposition of the Emergency, the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office highlighted that the Jana Sangh, precursor to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), actively supported the pro-democracy movement led by Jayaprakash Narayan and stood against the draconian measures imposed by the government.
Recalling Winston Churchill’s prediction that India would not survive as a democracy for more than half a century after gaining independence, Singh stated that if the British premier were alive today, he would regret his statement upon witnessing India’s growth as a vibrant democracy under Narendra Modi’s leadership, surpassing even Churchill’s UK in numerous domains, including the economy.
