On the 42nd anniversary of the imposition of the infamous Emergency, Newslaundry brought together a panel of veterans, who were on the frontlines, for a Facebook Live to speak of their experience of the dark days of Indian democracy.

The panel included veteran columnist Tavleen Singh, a reporter during the Emergency, veteran journalist Virendra Kapoor, who was jailed after the then-PM Indira Gandhi announced a media clampdown, Ram Bahadur Rai, veteran journalist and former news editor of Jansatta, and Rajinder Sachar, the retired Chief Justice of Delhi High Court.

The panel discussed Sanjay Gandhi’s role behind the Emergency, the failure of citizens and media organisations as well as the threats the country faces now. The panel also discussed the possibility of another Emergency.