Sonia Gandhi, the Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson, recently shared new insights into the Emergency period, revealing that late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi later expressed regret and apologised for its excesses. These statements emerged from an interview with N. Ram of The Hindu, published ahead of Sonia Gandhi's memoir, 'Belonging: A Journey Of Love', set for worldwide release on November 10.
During her conversation, the 79-year-old Congress leader clarified that while Sanjay Gandhi is often seen as synonymous with the Emergency, Indira Gandhi herself faced immense pressure from senior colleagues. Sonia Gandhi recounted that her husband, late former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, frequently relayed public complaints and feedback to his mother during that tumultuous time.
When questioned about categorising the Emergency as an anti-democratic chapter, Sonia Gandhi conceded that democratic rights were indeed curtailed and habeas corpus suspended. However, she underscored that these actions were carried out constitutionally. Reflecting on Indira Gandhi's viewpoint, Sonia described the then Prime Minister's struggle against rapidly worsening conditions, including violent demonstrations, arson targeting government offices and public transport, widespread organised unrest, and even calls for the bureaucracy and armed forces to defy orders.
Sonia Gandhi further noted that hindsight offers a clearer perspective on the events, highlighting that Indira Gandhi ultimately acknowledged the gravity of the situation and initiated the March 1977 elections. It was then, she reiterated, that Indira Gandhi publicly voiced her regret and offered an apology for the excesses committed during the Emergency, which was declared on June 25, 1975, and saw significant curtailment of civil liberties and press freedoms. Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi lauded his mother on social media platform X, sharing the interview and remarking on her consistent character after sixty years in public life.
Image: Wikipedia — Sonia Gandhi
📰 Source: Mangalorean News