Pro-RSS Journal Favours Chapter on Emergency to Apprise Students Of The 'Dark Phase'

New Delhi: A pro-RSS journal has favoured including a chapter on Emergency in the school and college curricula, insisting the new generation ought to know how it "killed" democracy.

An article in the 'Organiser', a pro-RSS publication, said it was necessary to apprise the new generation of the Emergency that "killed" democracy while citing a recent event attended by several BJP leaders including Ministers.

"After the Freedom Movement, it was the biggest public fight, which was fought collectively by the people. Therefore, it is necessary that the new generation is apprised of it so that it could know how sinister attempts were made by a political party to kill democracy and how people collectively foiled the game plans of the autocratic regime," it said.

The article said the Loktantra Senani Sangh, an organisation of the people who fought against Emergency, unanimously passed a resolution demanding that the government teach the concept of democracy to students in schools and colleges.

"Emergency was a dark phase in the history of independent India and a criminal act against the country for personal hunger for power. Those who pushed the nation in that dark phase should apologise to the nation. The Central government and also the state governments should include the history of that struggle in curriculum," the piece said, citing the event.

It said teaching the young generation about the life and struggles of Jayaprakash Narayan, who led the mass movement against Emergency, would strengthen their belief in democracy.

The journal also spoke about a resolution by the Sangh, appealing to the central and state governments to prepare a list of the 'Soldiers of Democracy' and felicitate them.

"It will strengthen the democratic spirit in the country," it said, adding that several states have already done so.

The article also quoted several BJP leaders who had favoured inclusion of a chapter on Emergency in school and college curricula.

It also quoted Union Minister Thawarchand Gehlot and BJP leader Ram Lal who favoured honouring those who fought for restoration of democracy.