Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, recounted his personal ordeal during the Emergency period imposed by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, in an interview with ABP News Political Editor Megha Prasad. Chouhan, who was a school student at the time, alleged that the crackdown on dissent was so severe that India was reduced to “a prison” where “there was no appeal, no lawyer, no hearing, and no one to listen.”

“Became Involved with the JP Movement During School Days”: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Recalling the events of the Emergency period, Chouhan said he was a student of Class 11 at Bhopal Model School when he actively joined the movement led by Jayaprakash Narayan. “I was the president of the school. The JP movement was ongoing, against inflation, unemployment, corruption and a flawed education system. A protest was held in Bhopal against inflation. The then Congress government opened fire, resulting in the death of eight people. From that moment, I got deeply involved in the JP movement,” he said.

Chouhan noted that he had worked extensively in the Assembly elections alongside student groups when Babulal Gaur contested as a candidate. He recounted how, after the Allahabad High Court invalidated Indira Gandhi’s election, the Emergency was declared and protests began under the influence of the RSS. “I used to distribute pamphlets opposing the Emergency at people’s homes to awaken them. I even visited the homes of those jailed and met them at Begumganj jail,” he added.

Chouhan described the day of his arrest, stating that the police traced him after a student leader was detained. “On 7 April, the police came to our rented room. My board exam was on 9 April. As soon as I opened the door, they asked my name, hurled abuses and said, ‘Will you run a movement against Indira Gandhi?’ I said I have an exam the day after tomorrow, but they slapped me,” he recounted.

He said the police entered the room and found material against Indira Gandhi, following which they allegedly beat him and dragged him away. “They asked where I got the pamphlets from. I said I won’t tell. They hit both my elbows and knees and said, ‘If you don’t speak, we will break them.’ They even threatened to give me electric shocks,” he claimed.

Chouhan further alleged that the beatings continued until an inspector intervened, saying, “Enough, he’s a child, don’t beat him so much.” The next day, he was handcuffed, taken to the magistrate’s residence, where he said a false witness was produced against him, and he was sent to jail.

“Spent Nine and a Half Months in Jail, Missed Exams”: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Narrating his time in jail, Chouhan said he was shouting slogans such as “We will not bow down to oppression” outside the Central Jail, and inmates from Barrack No. 6 joined in. He was then taken inside the barracks, and he spent nine and a half months in jail. “I could not appear for my board exams. After being released, I worked for the Janata Party’s election campaign,” he said.

Chouhan also described incidents of inhumane treatment inside the prison. “One of our Jan Sangh leaders fell ill. We demanded he be taken outside for treatment. When his condition worsened, we staged a hunger protest. Eventually, when he was taken for treatment, he died on the way,” he stated.

He shared a personal loss, saying his grandmother, who never imagined that political prisoners existed, fell ill and passed away while he was incarcerated. “I couldn’t even see her,” he said.

“Congress Turned India into a Jailhouse”: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Referring to the widespread impact of the Emergency, Chouhan said, “Many poor workers from the Sangh and Jan Sangh saw their families destroyed. They lost their livelihoods.”

He sharply criticised Indira Gandhi, alleging, “Just to hold on to power, Indira ji turned the whole country into a prison — no appeal, no lawyer, no hearing, and no one to listen.”

People Died In Jails, Given Electric Shocks, Families Were Ruined: Shivraj Singh Chouhan

On Congress’s present-day allegations that the Constitution is under threat, Chouhan hit back, saying, “How many were killed in jail, how many got electric shocks, how many were forced to lie on ice slabs, how many families were ruined. These families are asking questions today. Dictatorship is in Congress’s DNA, and democracy is embedded in BJP’s DNA — it’s in our roots.”

He also stated that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the Union Cabinet functions with open discussions, citing the formation of NITI Aayog as an effort to build a “Team India” approach.

“Democracy is safe. Congress is in danger — it is unable to retain its existence, not getting votes, the public is not with them. They are doing bizarre things and claiming democracy is in danger. There is no other party more undemocratic and tyrannical than Congress,” Chouhan concluded.

Nationwide Programmes to Mark Emergency’s 50th Year

As per the Ministry of Culture, events are being organised across the country to observe 50 years since the Emergency was imposed. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to attend a commemoration function in Delhi on Wednesday and will flag off the ‘Long Live Democracy Yatra’, aimed at promoting awareness of constitutional values and democratic rights through the lens of lessons learnt from the Emergency.