Memories of Emergency must be kept alive: Amit Shah

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said memories of the Emergency must be kept alive so that no one can impose dictatorial thoughts on the country.

Addressing an event organised on 50th anniversary of proclamation of Emergency, Shah said when it comes to social and national life, such events must be remembered eternally so that the country's youth and adolescents are aware and prepared to resist injustice.

Shah said the country will never forget the injustice and atrocities committed by the Congress during the Emergency that was proclaimed on this day 50 years ago and hence Prime Minister Narendra Modi has rightly decided to observe the day as 'Samvidhan Hatya Diwas'.

The Indira Gandhi government had imposed the Emergency on June 25, 1975. The Modi government observes this day as 'Samvidhan Hatya Diwas'.

"Today, we are gathered here to remember a dark chapter in the history of post-Independence India. We must keep the memories of the Emergency alive so that it is never repeated, and so that the youth of the nation (grow up) cultured and organised," he said.

Shah also released a book 'The Emergency Diaries: Years That Forged a Leader' which is based on first person anecdotes from associates who worked with young Modi, and using other archival material. The book is a first of its kind that creates new scholarship on the formative years of the prime minister.

The book paints a vivid picture of PM Modi fighting for the ideals of democracy and how he has worked all his life to preserve and promote it.

"The book chronicles his experiences as a young activist during the Emergency, a period in which he was actively involved in the movement for 19 months. At that time, secret newspapers were published and PM Modi played a key role in distributing them in marketplaces, among students and to women," Shah said.

He said the story of how a 24-25 years old Modi led a resistance movement in Gujarat is in this book.

"PM Modi worked underground disguised as a sadhu, a sardarji, a hippie, an incense stick seller or a newspaper vendor," Shah said.

The function was also addressed by Union ministers Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Delhi LG V K Saxena and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.