Senior journalist Kuldip Nayar, whose book 'Emergency Retold' was re-released this week, says he was told this paperwork had all been burnt. On the eve of the Emergency's 38th anniversary, the Sunday Times has unearthed six files of paperwork from this time in the National Archives of India, most of which has escaped academic attention. The only difference between his letter and hers was the bracket inserted for "clause (1)". While most citizens today are well aware of this dark period in Indian history, what they may not know is that in his declaration, the President reproduced word for word a draft sent to him by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. "In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (1) of Article 352 of the Constitution, I, Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, President of India, by this Proclamation declare that a grave emergency exists whereby the security of India is threatened by internal disturbance." On June 25, 1975, the President of India issued this "Proclamation of Emergency", thereby suspending democracy and imposing severe restrictions on free speech, dissent and political activities across the country. Documents with vital information about the declaration of Emergency in 1975 were said to be missing until Josy Joseph unearthed the paperwork, shedding new light on one of India's darkest hours.
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