BJP District Jammu observed “Black Day” at the party headquarters in Kachi Chawni, Jammu, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Emergency imposed by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975.
Sunil Sharma, General Secretary of J&K BJP and Leader of Opposition in the J&K Assembly, was the chief speaker at the event. He was accompanied by BJP Vice-President & MLA Yudhvir Sethi, Secretary & MLA Arvind Gupta, BHO Headquarter Incharge Priya Sethi, and Chief Spokesperson Adv. Sunil Sethi.
The event was organized by BJP District Jammu under the leadership of District President Adv. Rajesh Gupta.Prominent leaders including J&K BJP Secretary Anju Dogra, former Mayor Rajinder Sharma, District Prabhari Rajiv Charak, Protocol secretary Sanjay Khanna, Puneet Mahajan, District Team, Mandal team and other senior functionaries were also present.
The programme featured the inauguration of an exhibition that highlighted the horrors of the Emergency and the brutal suppression of civil liberties during that period.
Senior leaders of the BJP honoured and felicitated those who suffered atrocities during the Emergency, acknowledging their resilience and sacrifices.Speaking on the occasion, Sunil Sharma condemned the Emergency as the darkest chapter in India’s democratic history. “Today, we mark Black Day to remember how Congress trampled upon democracy, suspended civil liberties, and pushed the nation into an era of dictatorship. Over 1 lakh political workers were jailed, tortured, and silenced. The same Congress now pretends to uphold the Constitution it once betrayed,” Sharma said. He praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, emphasizing that today’s India is governed with transparency, accountability, and democratic values.Sunil Sharma said, “The programme serves as a stark reminder of the atrocities committed during the 21-month-long Emergency that saw thousands of political activists jailed and press freedoms crushed.”
Yudhvir Sethi stated that the Emergency was a direct attack on every citizen's rights and freedom. “Those who talk of saving the Constitution today had once torn it to shreds for power. BJP will continue to educate the new generation about these misdeeds,” he asserted.Arvind Gupta reminded the gathering that the Emergency was not just a political blunder but a humanitarian crisis. “We must never forget the forced sterilizations, press gagging, and custodial torture that happened. The youth of today must be told the truth.”Priya Sethi added, “Congress betrayed the trust of the people. They turned governance into tyranny. It is BJP’s duty to ensure such a day never returns.”
Adv. Sunil Sethi said “This observance is our reminder and resolve—such days must never return to our country.”Adv. Rajesh Gupta thanked the senior leadership for their presence and emphasized that every booth-level worker of BJP is committed to safeguarding democracy.
Baldev Singh Billawaria, former Deputy Mayor JMC, addressed a similar programme in BJP District Basohli at Billawar.