The government has decided to observe anti-Emergency day on June 25-26 and asked all its ministers to hold programmes across the country to remind people how Emergency was clamped by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975.
Terming the Emergency as a "black day" in the constitutional democracy of independent India.
Union Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu has written to all ministers, asking them to make themselves available on the requests of the presidents of state units of the BJP to demonstrate how the party values democracy.
We, a democratic and nationalist party, observe the day to reinforce our firm commitment against subversion of democratic values. To demonstrate how we value democracy and stand for people’s rights; it has been decided that this year too, on 25 and 26 June we will observe Anti-Emergency Day.Venkaiah Naidu said in his letter.
In the same letter, Naidu also asked ministers to tour one or two places to interact with traders, merchant organisations, chambers of commerce and industry to explain highlights and benefits of the GST which would come into force from July 1.
"Though the process of creating awareness has been underway through print and electronic media all over the country, the prime minister has desired that Union ministers take upon themselves the responsibility of explaining the highlights and benefits of the GST," the letter said.