Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has said that the Emergency period in India should not only be seen as a dark moment in history but also as a time that offers serious lessons for today and the future.

Shashi Tharoor discussed the Emergency declared by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi from June 25, 1975, to March 21, 1977, saying that although it was introduced in the name of restoring discipline and order, it resulted in widespread injustice and harsh actions—as he wrote in an article for the Malayalam newspaper Deepika.

He mentioned that Sanjay Gandhi, Indira Gandhi’s son, was behind the forced sterilisation campaigns, especially in rural areas, where people were pressured or even forced into surgeries. In cities like Delhi, he wrote, slums were destroyed without any concern for the people living there.

“Thousands of people were rendered homeless. Their welfare was not taken into consideration,” he said.

Tharoor, a Congress Working Committee member and MP from Thiruvananthapuram, said that democracy is not something to be taken for granted.

“It is a precious legacy that must be constantly nurtured and preserved. Let it serve as a lasting reminder to people everywhere,” he wrote.

He added that today’s India is very different from what it was in 1975—more confident, more developed, and a stronger democracy.

However, he warned that the urge to concentrate power, stop criticism, or ignore the Constitution can still come back in new ways.

“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,” Tharoor said.

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