Raipur, June 29: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Sunday attended a state-level felicitation ceremony for loktantra senanis (democracy fighters) to mark Emergency Remembrance Day at the DDU Auditorium. During the event, the Chief Minister released a memorial publication titled “Aapatkaal Ke Yoddha” (Warriors of Emergency), which chronicles the historical struggles of political prisoners, and distributed prizes to the winners of a state-level essay competition.

Addressing the gathering as the keynote speaker, senior RSS leader Indresh Kumar stated that democracy is fundamentally a way of life rather than a mere administrative system. Recalling the 1975 Emergency as a testing phase that severely strained fundamental rights and press freedom, Kumar urged the youth to internalise the spirit of “Nation First” while upholding social harmony and national unity.

Chief Minister Sai termed the Emergency a dark chapter in India’s democratic history, emphasizing that the state curriculum now includes this history to acquaint future generations with the sacrifices made to preserve constitutional values. Sharing a personal account, Sai recalled that his maternal uncle, the late Narhari Sai, was imprisoned for 19 months during the crackdown while local volunteers secretly sustained affected families.

Echoing these sentiments, Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly Speaker Dr Raman Singh stated that the suspension of civil liberties and arbitrary constitutional amendments during the period serve as a permanent reminder for citizens to remain vigilant. Singh lauded the resilience of the public representatives who endured imprisonment to restore institutional checks and balances.

The state-level essay competition witnessed participation from over 540 students across the state. In the school category, Jagriti Jangde of JR Dani Girls School, Raipur, won the first prize of ₹31,000, followed by Suraj Tandiya of Korba and Ansh Deshmukh of Durg. In the college division, Kalyani Patle of Raipur secured the top spot, followed by Seema Sao of Raigarh and Khushboo of Durg.

The convention was attended by Union Minister of State Tokhan Sahu, Rajya Sabha MP Laxmi Verma, Loktantra Senani Sangh national president Kailash Soni, and local MLAs Motilal Sahu and Gomti Sai, alongside senior administrative officials and families of veteran activists.