50 -year emergency: Eam Jaishankar signed a deal for the arrest of fishermen by Sri Lanka in 1974; Still visible results in Tamil Nadu. Bharat News

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Friday that the root of the ongoing Sri Lankan issue, who arrested Indian fishermen, lies in a controversial agreement signed during the emergency era under which India abandoned some fishing rights.Speaking at an event organized by Bharat Janata Yuva Morch (BJYM), to mark the 50th anniversary of the Emergency, Jaishankar said that if Parliament was working properly at that time, this kind of deal would not have happened.“We hear about our fishermen arrested by Sri Lanka. The reason for this is that an agreement was signed during the Emergency, under which the fishermen’s fishing rights were abandoned in some sea water in Sri Lanka,” Jayashankar said.The 1974 maritime agreement was signed by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s signed under the government, the uninhabited Kathethevu island was abolished for Sri Lanka. In 1976, a follow-up agreement prevented Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen from entering each other’s exclusive economic areas, which continue to affect fishing communities in Tamil Nadu.“The results of this decision are still visible in Tamil Nadu,” the EAM said.Criticizing the Congress for bypassing democratic processes during the Emergency, Jaishankar said, “At that time a real Parliament was worked, there would be a debate and this decision would not be accepted.”He said that during that 21 months period, several major decisions were taken without public or parliamentary investigation, which began on 25 June 1975.While reflecting the time, Jaishankar recalled the police raid at the Hostel of Jawaharlal Nehru University and shared how his family had ties with emerging leaders like George Fernandes. He said, “I heard from my superiors in foreign service that it was difficult to defend India after the Emergency killing the Constitution and democracy,” he said.In a pointed attack on the leadership of the Congress, Jaishankar said that an emergency arises when the ‘family’ is put ahead of the country. “Some people keep a copy of the constitution in their pockets, but there are other intentions in their hearts,” PTI cited the external minister.Without giving the name of Rahul Gandhi directly, he refused to apologize for the party’s emergency, saying that it was not only a political mistake, but an attack on the way people’s lives.The younger generation should learn how the Congress excluded the Constitution from greed for power, he said, referring to the mock parliament organized by BJYM. He further said that empowering citizens is important to prevent any similar situation in future.He swipe on the claims of the opposition of a “undeclared emergency” under the present government. He said, “I want to clarify that this is not a time of emergency and there will be one in the future. That is why we all are present here in this mock parliament today.”During the Emergency, Jaishankar said, five constitutional amendments and 48 ordinances were passed, one of which stopped the emergency provisions from challenging in any court.Calling India’s peaceful resistance during the time, “democracy is in our DNA,” he said that the emergency of the public through the ballot was finally rejection of the public for new elections and the restoration of democratic rule.He also touched the moments of unity, Operation Sindoor, where the opposition leaders also joined India’s efforts to enhance India’s global status, reflecting “deep national pride” and stood as a mortgage for the daturalism of the Emergency.He said, “The events of 50 years ago should not be seen only as history – they still live in the minds of many people. Therefore, we should be alert to those who still have no regrets about the Emergency,” he said.