Shiv Sena (UBT) defends Emergency, calls it ‘constitutionally valid’

The Shiv Sena (UBT) has defended the Emergency, calling it constitutional and acknowledged that the undivided Shiv Sena Chief, Bal Thackeray, had openly supported the Emergency. Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut stated on Wednesday (June 25, 2025) that according to the Indian Constitution, if there is an internal security threat, the Prime Minister can impose an Emergency.

Mr. Raut’s statement comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the Emergency Samvidhan Hatya Diwas. In a scathing attack, Mr. Raut remarked, “BJP can celebrate and politicise anything.”

“How can it be celebrated as Samvidhan Hatya Diwas when the Constitution enables the Prime Minister, with the approval of the president, to impose an Emergency if the country is facing any threat?”

Mr. Raut called 11 years of Mr. Modi’s administration “an unannounced emergency” as during this time, the police were found using bulldozers to raze poor people’s homes based on their religion and caste, nearly every day.

Reflecting on the similarities, Mr. Raut said, “Indiraji called BJP leaders Atalji and Advanji in jail regularly when they were detained, while the BJP got the sitting Chief Minister arrested. So, celebrate these 11 years as Samvidhan Hatya Diwas.”

Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi imposed the Emergency in India on June 25, 1975, making it 50 years since that day.

Constitutional sanction

Mr. Raut defended Ms. Gandhi, saying that she imposed an Emergency, staying within the confines of the Constitution. “She confronted people and cited reasons for imposing the Emergency. After 22 months, she also fought in the election. Emergency has constitutional recognition. She could have won the election by wrong means, but she accepted her defeat, which makes her chowkidar (protector) of democracy,” he adds. 

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena Chief and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday (June 25, 2025) dismissed the claims of Bal Thackeray backing the Emergency. Mr. Shinde called it a “half-truth” and referred to an interview by Bal Thackeray, wherein he stated, “I condemn the decision of Emergency if it was to save the Prime Ministership.” Mr Shinde said, “Bal Thackeray never straightforwardly backed the Emergency, and he said several times, ‘I am with the Emergency, only it was taken for the country’s welfare. Under the name of Emergency, we won’t accept dictatorship’.”

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also wrote an article criticising the Emergency and recalled bitter memories of the period. He condemned the Congress party’s actions as a destruction of the Constitution, constitutional institutions, and democracy. “It’s been 50 years since the Congress party wrote this dark chapter in history,” he wrote.