Late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared Emergency across the country on June 25, 1975, marking an age of darkness that continued for two years. Remembering the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said despite the authoritarian mindset of the then Congress government, democracy prevailed in the country.

Remembering the Emergency era, the Opposition, led by Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has said that the country has been witnessing a 'Super Emergency' for the past five years.

On the 44th anniversary of the declaration of Emergency by Indira Gandhi, Narendra Modi shared a clip of newspaper headlines, protests and clashes that marked the day in 1975.

India salutes all those greats who fiercely and fearlessly resisted the Emergency.



India’s democratic ethos successfully prevailed over an authoritarian mindset. pic.twitter.com/vUS6HYPbT5 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 25, 2019

PM Modi wrote, "India salutes all those greats who fiercely and fearlessly resisted the Emergency. India's democratic ethos successfully prevailed over an authoritarian mindset."

Mamata Banerjee, on the other hand, has written, "Today is the anniversary of the #Emergency declared in 1975. For the last five years, the country went through a 'Super Emergency'. We must learn our lessons from history and fight to safeguard the democratic institutions in the country".

On June 25, 1975, the Indira Gandhi government imposed a National Emergency on the country, thus suspending most of the Constitutional rights of citizens.

Today is the anniversary of the #Emergency declared in 1975. For the last five years, the country went through a Super Emergency’. We must learn our lessons from history and fight to safeguard the democratic institutions in the country June 25, 2019

Today, a stronger resolve than in 1975 is required, to fight back attacks on Secular Democracy. This attack is by those who don’t think India belongs to all its citizens. But it does, to all Indians irrespective of which god they pray to (or don’t). #Emergency #SecularDemocracy https://t.co/WZlrZeI1kO Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) June 25, 2019

Newspapers were banned from printing anything against the government, Opposition leaders were put behind the bars in bulk and Indira Gandhi ruled for another 2 years in such conditions.

Among those arrested were BJP veterans LK Advani, Atal Bihar Vajpayee, Jai Prakash Narayan and many others.

Veteran BJP leader and former minister Kalraj Mishra, who was one among the several politicians who were jailed during the Emergency, has posted a photograph of the jail on Twitter. Mishra has written, "This period will be remembered as curtailing of fundamental rights. The memories of those 19 months during #emergency are still fresh in my thoughts. This is the jail where I have been kept along with other leaders during #Emergency for raising our voices against dictatorship."

CPIM general secretary Sitaram Yechury has said, "Today, a stronger resolve than in 1975 is required, to fight back attacks on Secular Democracy. This attack is by those who don't think India belongs to all its citizens. But it does, to all Indians irrespective of which god they pray to (or don't). #Emergency #SecularDemocracy".

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has hailed the "heroes" of the Emergency era, who fought against the regime.