New Delhi, June 26 (IANS) The Delhi BJP, led by Harsh Malhotra, on Friday organised a seminar to remember the Emergency imposed by the then Congress government in 1975 and to honour 115 Loktantra Senanis (democracy warriors) who faced hardships during the dark phase.

Speaking at the event, organised at the NDMC Convention Centre under the chairmanship of Delhi Malhotra, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that ‘Samvidhan Hatya Diwas’ is very important in Indian history.

She said that every year when Ravana’s effigy is burnt on Dussehra, it represents the victory of truth over falsehood and good over evil. Similarly, June 25 is remembered as ‘Samvidhan Hatya Diwas’ so that future generations understand that if anyone tries to repeat such an act, the 140 crore citizens of India will never allow it.

Chief Minister Gupta said during the Emergency, the Congress government chained Jayaprakash Narayan, but could not chain his courage.

She said that even while respected Atal Bihari Vajpayee was imprisoned, his writings continued and became the voice of lakhs of democracy warriors.

Those who stayed away from their families for years and faced hardships never gave up their love for the nation, she said.

Former Union Minister Smriti Irani said that history tends to repeat itself, but this programme has been organised so that the Emergency’s history is never repeated.

She said that, especially, young people have been invited so they can know the truth and meet those who faced hardships during the Emergency and who raised their voices against it.

She said that the suffering of women during the Emergency is rarely discussed and alleged that references related to atrocities against women were removed from the pages of history.

She said that those who speak about women’s rights today must answer what happened to women during that period.

Delhi BJP Chief Malhotra said that during the Emergency, press freedom was curtailed, privileges were removed, and opposition workers and ordinary citizens faced hardships.

He said that the importance of remembering this day is not only to discuss the wrongs committed during the Emergency but also to educate the young generation, which did not witness that period, about the mindset behind those actions.

He said that the Emergency teaches that an independent judiciary, a free press, an active civil society, and aware citizens are the strongest pillars of democracy.

No matter how powerful a government is, the final decision in a democracy belongs to the people, he said.

The seminar was also addressed by Loktantra Senani and BJP Parliamentary Board member Satyanarayan Jatiya.

The programme was conducted by organising committee members, MPs Yogendra Chandolia, Dharamvir Sharma and Devendra Solanki.

During the event, senior democracy warriors, including O.P. Babbar, Nand Kishore Garg, Lal Bihari Tiwari, P.K. Chandela, Suresh Gupta, Rambhaj, Karan Singh Tanwar, Shravan Kumar, Tilak Raj Kataria, Sanjay Bhatia, Rajan Dhingra, Jagmal Prasad and others, were honoured with shawls.

MPs Manoj Tiwari, Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, Bansuri Swaraj and Delhi Minister Ashish Sood also attended the programme and honoured the Loktantra Senanis (democracy warriors).

–IANS

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