DD to show 5-part series on Emergency

NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi's contribution to mobilizing those opposed to Emergency and evade arrest through various disguises, forced mass sterilization in Haryana's Uttawar village and police torture of Lawrence Fernandes, brother of union leader George Fernandes, are some of the significant incidents that will be part of "The Truth of Emergency'' a five-part series to be telecast on public broadcaster Doordarshan.

The half an hour series, to be broadcast from Tuesday till June 27, will mark the 40th anniversary of the Emergency. Doordarshan is also planning a half hour discussion program every night on the subject dwelling on issues related to the impact of the Emergency on media, judiciary and Parliament through the testimonials of former journalists, political leaders and others. Prasar Bharati chairperson A Surya Prakash said, "As a public broadcaster we must reinforce constitutional values and reinforce public trust and commitment to democratic values.''

The series will trace events leading to the suspension of democratic rights like the Navnirman Andolan, 1971 polls, imposition of Emergency and its impact. Among the incidents that will be highlighted include PM Modi's work in Gujarat in mobilizing support with the RSS and the Jan Sangharsh Samiti, the forced sterilization of male Meo Muslims in the Haryana village of Uttawar and the cases of arbitrary arrests and torture of prominent people like Lawrence Fernandes.

Sources said that BJP leaders L K Advani, Congress leaders like Ambika Soni, Kamal Nath and S Jaipal Reddy had been approached for interviews while those who had confirmed including Congress' Mohsina Kidwai, NCP's D P Tripathi, BJP's Arun Jaitley, journalists like Kuldip Nayyar, Inder Malhotra, Virender Kapoor, M J Akbar and former law minister Shanti Bhushan had been recorded.

Emergency came into effect from June 25, 1975, and was withdrawn on March 21, 1977. Apart from the special programmes, stories related to the incidents during the Emergency period would also be shown during regular bulletins of DD News, sources said.