BJP to observe Black Day on June 25

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will observe the 1975 Emergency Anniversary as a 'Black Day'.

June 25 marks the day when Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had declared a state of emergency in the country.

Senior BJP leaders have often attacked the Congress over the move, branding it as undemocratic and intolerant.

Emergency was declared for a 21-month period from 1975 to 1977 by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Officially issued by President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed under Article 352 of the Constitution due of the prevailing "internal disturbance", the Emergency was in effect from June 25, 1975, until its withdrawal on March 21, 1977.

The order vested upon the Prime Minister the authority to rule by decree, allowing elections to be suspended and civil liberties to be curbed.

The final decision to impose an emergency was proposed by Indira Gandhi, agreed upon by the president of India, and thereafter ratified by the cabinet and the parliament (from July to August 1975), based on the rationale that there were imminent internal and external threats to the Indian state.

The Emergency is considered to be one of the most controversial periods of independent India's history.