Shashi Tharoor’s Bold Take on Emergency: “More Than a Dark Chapter, It’s a Warning to Indian Democracy”
New Delhi(The Uttam Hindu): Congress MP and CWC member Dr. Shashi Tharoor has stirred debate by calling the 1975 Emergency not just a "dark chapter" but a serious warning for India's democratic future. Reflecting on the events during that period, Tharoor remarked that actions taken in the name of “discipline and order” often turned into acts of cruelty that remain unjustifiable.
He directly criticized controversial policies of the time, especially the forced sterilization drives and the demolition of urban slums, led by Sanjay Gandhi. Tharoor stressed that these actions were a betrayal of democratic values and had devastating effects on thousands of citizens.
In a sharp reminder, he added that while India today may be a stronger and more confident democracy, the lessons from the Emergency remain relevant. He warned that tendencies like power centralization and silencing of dissent could resurface, and thus, defenders of democracy must stay vigilant.