Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami Participates in Democracy Fighters’ Felicitation on 50th Anniversary of the Emergency at Himalayan Culture Centre, Dehradun

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami attended a ceremony honoring democracy fighters at the Himalayan Culture Centre in Dehradun, marking 50 years since the imposition of the Emergency. Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, was also present. The Chief Minister honored ten democracy fighters, including Narendra Kumar Mittal and Ranjit Singh Juyal.

Welcoming Minister Yadav’s visit to Uttarakhand, CM Dhami said, “With cooperation from the Central Government, forest-related matters in our state are being resolved promptly. Uttarakhand is receiving every possible support and assistance from the Union Government.”

Paying tribute to the democracy fighters, the Chief Minister said, “It is our privilege today to honor the heroes who defended democracy. The Emergency will always be remembered as a dark chapter in India’s democratic history—a product of one family’s autocratic mindset. During the Emergency, Parliament was held hostage, press freedom was censored, and the dignity of the judiciary was trampled, crushing the fundamental rights of millions. The government at the time ruthlessly silenced every voice—from opposition leaders to hundreds of journalists—who dared defend democracy, turning the nation into an open prison under laws like MISA and DIR.”

“Yet, the movement against the Emergency became a nationwide revolution,” he continued. “Salute to the defenders of democracy who sanctified prison cells with their sacrifice and kept the flame of freedom alive. Leaders like Jayaprakash Narayan, Nanaji Deshmukh, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Lal Krishna Advani, George Fernandes, and Chandra Shekhar guided the mass protests. Even behind bars, they awakened democratic consciousness among the youth. Atal ji inspired young people through his poetry. Organizations from the RSS and ABVP to the Jan Sangh and countless social and cultural groups rallied to revive democracy. University and college students across the country joined in, transforming the movement into a mass uprising.”

The Chief Minister paid special homage to Uttarakhand’s own sons of the soil who played key roles. “In Bageshwar, Chandrasinh Rathore, a teacher, awakened democratic faith among students, endured torture, and even lost his job—only to regain it after 32 years of struggle. In Pauri, Govind Ram Dhingra was jailed for his RSS affiliation. Across Uttarakhand’s districts, hundreds of such patriots risked everything to restore democracy.”

CM Dhami stressed the importance of educating today’s youth about the Emergency. “Our esteemed Prime Minister Narendra Modi led underground efforts to defend democracy during those dark days. That is why he inaugurated June 25 as ‘Constitution Killing Day’ to ensure future generations learn the truth. In 1978, he wrote the book Struggle in Gujarat about those times. Yesterday, Home Minister Amit Shah released The Emergency Diaries, a new book on the Prime Minister’s experiences. I am confident that these efforts will help India’s next generation understand how the Constitution was trampled and democracy’s soul crushed.”

Affirming his government’s commitment, the Chief Minister said, “Under the leadership of our honorable Prime Minister, our state administration is fully determined to honor democracy fighters. Across Uttarakhand, exhibitions are being organized to raise youth awareness about this great movement against authoritarianism. Such programs will not only help our young people appreciate the value of democracy but also inspire them to be vigilant about their rights and duties. They will empower us to fulfill our ‘no-alternative resolve’ to make Uttarakhand a leading state.”

The event was attended by Cabinet Minister Ganesh Joshi, Rajya Sabha MP Mahendra Bhatt, and a large gathering of veterans and their families.