The "darkness" of the Emergency imposed by the Indira Gandhi-led Congress government in June 1975 "must be known to youngsters today as they are the future of the country", former Vice President Venkaiah Naidu told NDTV Tuesday, on the 50th anniversary of that Emergency.
"I am very particular students today know what happened in the country in 1975... during the Emergency. They must know why it was imposed, how was it enforced, and how was it lifted. All of this must be known to youngsters because they are the future of the country," Mr Naidu said.
Mr Naidu, a veteran member of the ruling BJP who was also a Union Minister, a Rajya Sabha MP, and the National President of his party, spent 17-and-a-half months in jail during the Emergency.