Why June 25 is considered India's black day of democracy

Forty three years ago, on June 25, 1975, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi clamped a national emergency that's been termed the darkest day of Indian democracy.
This was the third national emergency (first one was in 1962 when China invaded India while the second one was in 1971 during the war with Pakistan), and the only one to be declared citing of "internal disturbances".

During the 1975 emergency opposition leaders were arrested, elections postponed, anti-government protests crushed and press censored. Some laws were rewritten to suit the government. Here’s more…




1975 vs 2018: Can India see a repeat of the emergency of 1975?

Highly unlikely because:


* Congress party had an absolute majority in both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha (352 of 523 seats) in 1971. The current government lacks the numbers in Rajya Sabha


* Regional parties have a strong presence in many states, that wasn't the case in 1975


* States are also more independent than earlier—financially and politically


* Judiciary isn't as pliant to government as it was in 1975 when right to life and liberty was suspended


* Article 352 that gives emergency powers to the President has more legal safeguards now


* It's not so easy to control flow of information because of social media and connectivity


* India is more connected to the world than it was 43 years ago and global pressure can be a deterrent.