more-in BJP State president and MP K. Haribabu on Monday recalled experiences during the Emergency (1975-77) and narrated how democracy was murdered by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi following an adverse judgment by the Allahabad High Court. At a meeting held here and attended by those belonging to BJP, RSS and BMS, about 30 people, including Mr. Haribabu who were arrested during the Emergency, described their experiences. In response to a petition filed by Raj Narain on electoral malpractices committed by the late Prime Minister in the Lok Sabha elections in Rae Bareilly in 1971, the court declared on June 12 in 1975 Indira Gandhi’s election as null and void and banned her from holding elected office for six years. Coupled with this, the leaders recalled, the agitations spearheaded by JP in Bihar and youth in Gujarat led to promulgation of Emergency on the night of June 25, 1975 suspending the right over freedom of speech and vesting powers with the government under the pretext of ‘internal disturbances’ under Section 352 (1) of the Constitution. Mr. Haribabu lauded the efforts of all those who fought against Emergency and did not give up their courage to raise their voice against it leading to its withdrawal in March 1977. He said it was a black chapter in Indian democracy and mentioned that later subsequently enactments were done in such a way to prevent clamping of Emergency in future. BMS leader Bhavani Shankarudu, who was arrested during Emergency while studying Intermediate at the age of 16, said despite his release, he continued his protest against the black law forcing the government to arrest him twice and lodge him at Visakhapatnam and Chanchalguda jails. Among others, senior BJP leader P.V. Chalapathi Rao, Visakha North MLA P. Vishnukumar Raju, MLC P.V.N. Madhav and BJP city president M. Nagendra and others were present.

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