NB Viewpoint | "Some of these people became handicapped for life..": RSS GS Hosabale remembers terrors of EMERGENCY

"Many a time I feel, should we remember that cruelty? Sangh's third Sarsanghchalak, Balasaheb Deoras had made an important statement after the Emergency. In his public address, he said, Forgive and Forget. But the acute atrocity that occurred during the black chapter of the country's history, is recorded in pages of history. There was widespread barbarism" - Dattatreya Hosabale, RSS General Secretary

"A pregnant woman, sitting on Satyagraha, was taken up by the police. She went into labour and was rushed to the hospital. But during her delivery time she was chained. It is not so that the pregnant woman will run away, and if the delivery happens then why was she chained?" - Dattatreya Hosabale, RSS General Secretary

"Today's generation won't understand the situation that prevailed at that time easily because there was no TV, email, or mobile" - Dattatreya Hosabale, RSS General Secretary

New Delhi, Jun 26: Recalling the "atrocities and barbarism" people suffered during the Emergency imposed by the Indira Gandhi government 48 years ago, RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale on Sunday (Jun 25) broke down in tears and said it was a "black chapter" in India's history.

Hosabale was speaking at the Indraprastha Vishwa Samvada Kendra (IVSK), the RSS media wing, on the anniversary of the Emergency, imposed on Jun 25, 1975. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader recalled many "atrocities" inflicted on the people done during the 21-month-long Emergency. He said he was in Bengaluru at that time.

Also read: When Durga Bhagwat, one of the first prominent writers, was arrested for public opposition against the Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi in 1975

"We recieved the news (about Emergency) through BBC and Akashvani. Leaders like Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Advani Ji, Madhu Dandavate, and SN Mishra were also there because of their work regarding a Parliamentary Committe. We reached out to them and told them about the Emergency. Later, police arrested them and charged them under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA)," he said. Stating that he himself was underground for six months, the RSS leader said, "Today's generation won't understand the situation that prevailed at that time easily because there was no TV, email, or mobile."

Remembering the police atrocities and "inhumane torture", done on people inside police lockups, he said, "Some of these people became handicapped for life, some lost their eyesight." "My friends, who underwent this torture, never distanced themselves from the ongoing movement," he added. "A man, Raju, from Karnataka died inside a police station. This happened across the country," Hosabale said.

Also read: Remembering assault on freedom of press during Emergency under Indira Gandhi

Recounting the forceful sterilization during the time, he said that the inhumane steps taken to control the population were a violation of human rights and will be listed as a "black spot" in the pages of history. The Emergency came into effect on June 25, 1975, and was withdrawn on March 21, 1977. The Emergency vested upon the Prime Minister the authority to rule by decree, allowing elections to be suspended and civil liberties to be curbed. The Emergency in 1975 is considered one of the most controversial periods of independent India's history.