Bhubaneswar, June 25 -- India observed 51 years since the Emergency on Thursday, a period that still sparks strong debate in the country's political history. It was on June 25, 1975, when the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared a nationwide Emergency, leading to the suspension of civil liberties, strict press control, and the arrest of several opposition leaders across India.

The Emergency lasted for nearly 21 months. Many critics say it was a time when India's democracy and basic freedoms were under heavy pressure. It continues to be remembered as one of the most debated periods in the country's political history.

Recalling his experience during the Emergency, BJD MLA from Rairakhol Prasanna Acharya said the events of June 25, 1...