Dehradun, June 25, 2026: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday marked Constitution Murder Day at a programme in Dehradun by honouring democracy fighters and their families, saying the Emergency imposed on June 25, 1975, remains a dark chapter in India’s democratic history.
Dhami said the then government, in an attempt to protect its hold on power, curbed civil liberties, restricted press freedom and injured the core spirit of the Constitution. He said India’s Constitution gives every citizen the right to freedom of expression and democratic rights, and the Emergency was a direct attack on those fundamental freedoms.
The chief minister said the people of India responded to that assault through democratic means and eventually restored democracy. He added that the episode is a reminder of how important vigilance is in a constitutional democracy and why citizens must remain committed to safeguarding their rights and institutions.
Dhami also said the state government is continuously working for the honour and welfare of democracy fighters. He pointed out that in 2023, the monthly honourarium for such fighters was raised from Rs 16,000 to Rs 20,000. Special identity cards have also been issued to those who were jailed during the Emergency and to their dependent spouses, he said.
The event was attended by Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Bansal, Cabinet Ministers Ganesh Joshi and Khajan Das, MLAs Savita Kapoor and Umesh Sharma Kau, BJP state vice president Shailendra Bisht, BJP state general secretary Kundan Parihar and city president Siddharth Aggarwal.
Dhami’s remarks highlighted the government’s effort to connect the memory of the Emergency with present day democratic values, while also reinforcing recognition for those who resisted it. The programme reflected the state’s continued emphasis on constitutional awareness, democratic rights and respect for those who defended them.
