New Delhi: The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has introduced a chapter on India's Emergency period of 1975 in the Class 9 social science textbook.
The NCERT has added the section on the National Emergency in the newly developed social science textbook titled Understanding Society: India and Beyond. It describes the Emergency as "one of the major challenges" to democracy in India, during which a majority of fundamental rights were suspended.
NCERT introduced the chapter at a time when India had completed 51 years of the Emergency on Thursday. Responding to this, the BJP backed NCERT's move, claiming that the dark chapter in India's constitutional history must be remembered to ensure it is never repeated.
The ruling party also attacked the Congress over the imposition of the Emergency in 1975 and alleged that it was opposing NCERT's decision to introduce the section.
Emergency the darkest chapter of Indian history: BJP
According to BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla, June 25, 1975, marked the darkest chapter in India's democratic and constitutional journey. He alleged that Congress had attacked every constitutional institution during the period.
The country was placed under a state of Emergency by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi from June 25, 1975, to March 21, 1977.
"The Emergency was imposed out of lust for power by Indira Gandhi and the Congress. Every constitutional body was attacked. Parliament, the legislature, the judiciary and the media were censored and suppressed.
We saw how even the likes of Kishore Kumar had their voice suppressed and their songs removed from All India Radio. These were the kind of atrocities that were committed," he said in a video statement.
He said fundamental rights were suspended, judicial review was taken away, and constitutional safeguards were dismantled.
NCERT's decision to include a chapter on the Emergency will help students learn about this period so that such events are never repeated.
"Hence, the NCERT has taken a decision to include a chapter on the Emergency as dangerous to democracy and teach students. Because we must remember and commemorate this dark chapter in India's constitutional history, but we must never ever repeat it," the BJP spokesperson said.
Attacking the Congress, he alleged that the party continues to have an "Emergency mindset" and questioned why it is opposing the inclusion of the chapter.
"Unfortunately, the Congress imposed the Emergency back in 1975 and they continue to live in the Emergency mindset. They are opposing it, the Congress and their ecosystem. Why are you opposing it? Should you not welcome it? If you are champions of the Constitution and not supporters of its destruction, then you must be the first ones to say yes, let us learn from the mistakes of the past. Because those who don't are condemned to repeat it."
Poonawalla said leaders such as Jayaprakash Narayan, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Lalu Prasad Yadav had fought against the Emergency and alleged that it is ironic that many parties associated with them are now aligned with the Congress.
Congress leader Sachin Pilot slams BJP
Congress leader Sachin Pilot, in his reaction to the NCERT addition of Emergency content in Class 9 books, accused the BJP of reshaping history.
Pilot alleged that BJP is presenting history the way it likes. Pilot further alleged that the misuse of key institutions such as media, bureaucracy and even judiciary, is negatively affecting Indian democracy.
(With inputs from PTI)
"Unfortunately, the Congress imposed the Emergency back in 1975 and they continue to live in the Emergency mindset. They are opposing it, the Congress and their ecosystem. Why are you opposing it? Should you not welcome it? If you are champions of the Constitution and not supporters of its destruction, then you must be the first ones to say yes, let us learn from the mistakes of the past. Because those who don't are condemned to repeat it."
Poonawalla said leaders such as Jayaprakash Narayan, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Lalu Prasad Yadav had fought against the Emergency and alleged that it is ironic that many parties associated with them are now aligned with the Congress.
