Haryana governor reflects on emergency's 'Dark Period' in India

Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya on Monday reflected on the Emergency, calling it a "dark period" in post-Independence India's history when constitutional rights were crushed.

Ahead of the 50th anniversary of the Emergency's imposition in 1975, Dattatreya, who was an RSS functionary at that time, shared his personal experiences of evading arrest and his imprisonment.

Upon declaration of Emergency on June 25, 1975, he had received instructions to avoid arrest as many activists were already rounded up.

"The rules of the Constitution that safeguard democracy were all crushed (during Emergency)," he told PTI Videos here.

To evade authorities, he said he went underground and adopted a new appearance by wearing a suit and tie and even changed his name to 'Dharmendra'.

His primary role while underground was to organise activists across various locations against the Emergency, and also ensuring their safety and providing support to the families of leaders who were arrested.

In one instance, Dattatreya and fellow activists attempted to hold a covert political meeting under the guise of a Satyanarayana Puja near a temple.

As police converged on the location, Dattatreya said he and present Tripura Governor N Indrasena Reddy managed to escape by scaling a 20-foot wall.

While Reddy escaped unharmed, Dattatreya hurt his leg in the process.

Eventually, he was arrested and imprisoned under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA). and lodged in Chanchalguda Jail in Hyderabad, where he was held alongside several political prisoners.

During his incarceration, he learned of his elder brother's demise. He was granted parole to attend the funeral, during which he was advised by a relative to secure his release through a deal by giving in writing to the government that he would not be part of such activities again.

However, encouragement from his mother strengthened his resolve to stay committed to the cause.