Describing Emergency as a "painful, dark" period, Rajya Sabha Chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday said if that period is ignored, the Parliament has done well.
Addressing new MPs of the Rajya Sabha at an orientation programme here, Jagdeep Dhankhar said, "There has been only one painful, heart wrenching dark period and that was when Emergency was declared." During the period, the Constitution was reduced to just a paper, he said.
"It was shredded and leaders were jailed. MISA (Maintenance of Internal Security Act) became a draconian word. One of the senior politicians of the country, Lalu Prasad Yadav, was so moved and touched by the atrocities of the Emergency that he named his child Misa," he said.
Misa Bharti was a member of Rajya Sabha and is currently a Lok Sabha MP.
"That was the sentiment. If we ignore that dark period, our parliament has performed very well. It has done excellently," Jagdeep Dhankhar told the new RS MPs.
He also lauded the members of Parliament, saying they have contributed to the growth of the nation.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Featured Video Of The Day
Not Just Smog, Delhi Also Fighting "Walking Pneumonia" Cases This Season
"Demonising Constitutional Institutions Becoming Pastime": Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar's High Praise For Jayant Singh's Daughter's Kuchipudi Performance "Deeply Pained": Vice President Expresses Grief Over Death Of Ratan Tata "Speculative, Inaccurate": Canada Factchecks Own Media, Backtracks After India's Stinker Amazon Employee Greets Friend At Wedding, Dies Of Cardiac Arrest Indian Student In US Accidentally Shoots Himself Dead While Celebrating Birthday Chimps Are Upping Their Tool Game. Why It Holds Relevance For Humans Nutritionist Reveals How High-AGEs Diets Are Fuelling Diabetes "This Is Worth...": Ex-Zomato Employee On Deepinder Goyal's Job Offer Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.