West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday (June 18, 2025) objected to the use of the term Samvidhan Hatya Divas and the observance of the day on June 25 by the Union government. “Every day, the constitutional values and democracy are being trampled in this country,” Ms. Banerjee said.
The Chief Minister stated that West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant received a letter from the Government of India’s Ministry of Culture regarding the observance of June 25 as Samvidhan Hatya Divas as per the Home Ministry’s order, marking the 50th year of the Emergency.
“I object to the phrase ‘murder of our honourable Constitution,’ which is the foundation of our democratic system. They could have called it ‘Emergency Hatya Divas.’ Is there any democracy left in India? They can celebrate ‘Democracy Hatya Divas’ every day,” Ms. Banerjee said.
The Trinamool Congress leader also accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which governs the Union government, of denying basic constitutional rights to the people and said it should not be allowed to observe such a day.
Ms. Banerjee further pointed out that many great Indian leaders, including Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, played a major role in drafting the Constitution of India, and using the term Samvidhan Hatya is an insult to all great leaders like Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Jawaharlal Nehru, and others who fought to build the country and its Constitution.
“The Emergency witnessed a sweeping suspension of civil liberties, erosion of constitutional safeguards, and unprecedented centralization of executive power. Fundamental rights were breached… It is an occasion not merely for remembrance but for deep reflection and renewed commitment to democratic values and constitutional morality,” the official letter from the Government of India stated on June 14.
Reacting to these allegations by the Chief Minister, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari said that the BJP observes this day every year and will do so again this year.
“Many people in Bengal were imprisoned during the Emergency. They are still alive, and we pay tribute to them every year. The Chief Minister wants to opt out; that is not our concern. West Bengal and Bengalis are far beyond her jurisdiction,” Mr. Adhikari said.
