Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has condemned the 1975 Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi, referring to it as a “dark chapter” in the annals of India’s history. He pointed out instances of authoritarian overreach, particularly the forced sterilization campaigns led by Sanjay Gandhi. Tharoor denounced the violence and coercion that were prevalent in impoverished rural regions and slums in urban areas such as New Delhi.
The Emergency underscored the vulnerability of democracy and the necessity for ongoing vigilance, as it resulted in thousands of individuals becoming homeless. MP Tharoor warned that the lessons learned from the Emergency are still pertinent today, cautioning against the centralization of power and the suppression of dissent.
Tharoor’s rapport with the Congress leadership has been tense since he ran for the party presidency; however, Prime Minister Modi has extended an invitation for him to head a delegation to the United States and other countries in the Americas
