A dark day ...

Its the 30th anniversary of the declaration of a State of Emergency in India by the Indira Gandhi government. The nineteen month long emergency was one of the darkest periods in the history of independent India, with flagrant violation of human rights. Indira had opposition leaders arrested, and curfews imposed on the press. State legislatures were dissolved in states where the rival parties were in power, and a series of harsh bills and constitutional amendments through parliament, all which were approved with little discussion or debate. When Indira Gandhi called elections in 1977, she faced the wrath of the people who voted her out with overwhelming numbers. We can only hope that the political leadership will be more responsible in the future and not let us see these blatant misuses of power in the future.