Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (June 25, 2026) said the Emergency was a direct assault on the Constitution as the period witnessed the suspension of civil liberties, curbs on freedom of expression, and an assault on institutions that are the bedrock of Indian democracy.In a post on X on the 51st anniversary of the imposition of the Emergency, Mr. Modi paid homage to all those who steadfastly defended democratic values during “one of the darkest chapters in India’s history”.Noting that the period witnessed an assault on institutions that are the bedrock of Indian democracy, the Prime Minister said: “At the same time, it also revealed the extraordinary courage of countless citizens who refused to remain silent and upheld the ideals enshrined in our Constitution.”“For all of us, our Constitution is an embodiment of the aspirations, rights and duties of 140 crore Indians. We reaffirm our collective commitment to safeguarding constitutional values. Guided by the spirit of our Constitution, we will build an India that remains ever committed to justice, liberty, equality and fraternity,” said Mr. Modi.Revisiting Emergency through imagesARCHITECTS OF THE EMERGENCY: Prime Minister Indira Gandhi with President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, when she called on him on August 21, 1974. Mrs. Ahmed is at left. On her cabinet’s advice, President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed proclaimed Emergency under Article 352 citing “internal disturbances”. Photo: The Hindu ArchivesTHE MARCH THAT SHOOK MRS. GANDHI: Socialist leader Jayaprakash Narayan is seen seated outside the locked gate of the Patna Secretariat while leading the anti-corruption movement in Bihar in October 1974. As JP began touring more states, he also united several anti-Congress parties and the protests against Indira Gandhi government grew, which was seen as a prime reason for her recommending the Emergency. Photo: The Hindu Archives