Agartala, June 25: Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha on Wednesday inaugurated the Mock Parliament session here at Agartala Sukanta Academy, organized by the BJP Yuva Morcha.
The Mock Parliament aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s national call to involve at least one lakh non-political youths in the political domain. The initiative also commemorates the 50th anniversary of the Emergency imposed on June 25, 1975—a period widely regarded as one of the darkest chapters in India’s democratic history.
“Exactly fifty years ago, on this day in 1975, India witnessed one of the darkest chapters in its democratic history—the declaration of Emergency. Under the leadership of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the Congress government imposed Emergency, suppressing civil liberties and muzzling dissent in what is widely regarded as a blatant subversion of the Indian Constitution,” Dr Saha said.
The Chief Minister said that the event aimed to raise awareness among the youth about the perils of authoritarianism and the importance of safeguarding democratic values.
He said, “During the Emergency (1975–77), the government introduced a series of undemocratic constitutional amendments—specifically the 38th, 39th, 40th, 41st, and the draconian 42nd Amendment.
The Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) was enforced, leading to the arrest and persecution of thousands of political leaders, journalists, students, and ordinary citizens without trial. Freedom of speech and press was severely curtailed, and federal structures were undermined, he added.
At today’s event, BJYM activists reenacted key moments from that era through speeches and parliamentary-style debates. The mock session recreated the atmosphere of a Parliament under threat, highlighting how democratic institutions were systematically dismantled.
Senior leaders and guests present at the program lauded the participants for their enthusiastic involvement and emphasized the need for continued vigilance to protect India’s democratic ethos. The event served not only as a tribute to the resilience of Indian democracy but also as a reminder of how easily it can be threatened when power is misused.
