Chhattisgarh News: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai described the Emergency as a dark chapter in the history of Indian democracy and said that the sacrifices of the fighters who struggled to protect democracy can never be forgotten. He was addressing the program organized at the release ceremony of ‘Emergency Warriors’ souvenir. On this occasion, he also honored the winners of the state level essay competition organized on the topic of Emergency.
Appreciation for inclusion in school curriculum
The Chief Minister said that Chhattisgarh is a state with a rich tradition of struggle, culture and democratic values. Praising the initiative of including an important subject like Emergency in the school curriculum, he said that with this the new generation will be able to better understand the history of the country and the challenges of democracy.
Mentioned family experience
During his address, the Chief Minister also shared his family’s experiences related to the Emergency. He told that his uncle late Narhari Sai was in jail for 19 months during the Emergency. He said that at that time volunteers worked secretly to deliver food and necessary assistance to the affected families. According to him, this period was a time of severe testing for democratic rights and freedom of expression.
Appeal to youth to adopt democratic values
The Chief Minister said that from June 25, 1975 to March 21, 1977, Emergency was in force in the country under Article 352 of the Constitution, which was considered a challenging period for Indian democracy. He called upon the youth to imbibe democratic values, social harmony, discipline and the spirit of ‘Nation First’. He said that the coming generations should take inspiration from the struggle and sacrifice of democracy fighters.
Indresh Kumar and Raman Singh also expressed their views.
Keynote speaker of the program, Indresh Kumar said that democracy is not just a system of governance but an important way of living. Assembly Speaker Dr. Raman Singh said that the Emergency was a serious challenge to Indian democracy, which further clarified the importance of protecting democratic institutions and civil rights. He said that it is the responsibility of all citizens to learn from history and keep democratic values strong.