It is wrong to impose an emergency. Indira Gandhi also repented: Sonia Gandhi

Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday said that the Emergency, one of the most controversial events in the history of Indian politics, has been a key issue. He said that the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had imposed Emergency in 1975 and she also regretted the decision. Sonia Gandhi said that she had mentioned these things in her autobiography 'Belonging: The Journey of Love'. Sonia Gandhi revealed these things in an interview with Britain's 'The Guardian' magazine.

There was a difference of opinion between Indira Gandhi's sons, Rajiv Gandhi and Sanjay Gandhi, over the Emergency. "Indira Gandhi was a leader who believed in democracy and she was also not comfortable during the Emergency, which must have troubled her internally," she said. On June 25, 1975, Emergency was imposed in the country. It lasted for about 21 months until March 1977. During this time, restrictions on civil liberties were imposed. Opposition leaders have been arrested. Censorship was imposed on the press. These developments are considered to be the darkest chapter in the history of Indian democracy.

Sonia Gandhi said there were differences of opinion in Indira Gandhi's family over the decision to impose Emergency. She said her husband Rajiv Gandhi had advised her mother Indira Gandhi not to impose Emergency and wait till the next election. However, Indira Gandhi's younger son Sanjay Gandhi strongly supported the decision to impose the Emergency. "Sanjay felt that he had to stop the opposition," he said. The Guardian reported that Sonia Gandhi had explained in her book that the issue was also discussed during a family dinner and that Sanjay's comments at the time had influenced Indira Gandhi's decision.