50 Years After Emergency and Key Takeaways

1. What is context?

Indira Gandhi had advised President to impose internal emergency under article 352 of the constitution on 25 June 1975. This year marks the 50th anniversary of this notorious event. 

2. Indira Gandhi's Popularity

1) Split in congress: Congress split into 2 factions that is Congress (O) and Congress (R). Congress (O) was dominated by Syndicate (Influential group within congress) and Congress (R) was dominated by Indira Gandhi.

 

2) Indira Gandhi took more socialistic programs such as abolishing of privy purses (pensions and privileges offered to earlier princely states), nationalization of banks, abolition of managing agency system (handful of capitalists controlling large industries with little or no financial stake) and land reforms in the states.

 

3) This and several other similar steps on this line attracted poor and marginalized sections towards Indira Gandhi. 

 

4) Garibi Hatao v/s Indira Hatao: Grand Alliance (Congress-O, Jan Sangh, Swantantra and Samyukta Socialist Party led alliance) went to elections with ‘Indira Hatao’ slogan whereas Indira Gandhi avoiding personal attacks went to elections with ‘Garibi Hatao’ slogan, thus appealing masses towards her. 

 

5) 1971 General Elections: The results of elections were personal triumph for Indira Gandhi. Congress (R) swept the polls winning 352 of the 518 Lok Sabha seats. 

 

6) Bangladesh Challenge: Earlier Pakistan was comprised of West Pakistan (Present Pakistan) and East Pakistan (Present Bangladesh). West Pakistan always tried to dominate East Pakistan. In a bid to control East Pakistan the events got out of hands and Bangladesh Liberation war happened liberating East Pakistan (Bangladesh-> Bangla language speaking people) from dominance of West Pakistan. The significance for Indira Gandhi:

i) India emerged strong in South Asia.

ii) Erased memory of 1962 (war with China and India’s defeat) humiliating defeat.

iii) Grave refugee problem solved as 10 million refugees were sent back to Bangladesh.

 

These events had raised popularity of Indira Gandhi phenomenally. 

3. Indira Gandhi's Downfall

1) Economic Situation: A combination of recession, growing employment, increasing inflation and food prices created serious crisis. 

 

2) Drought: In 1972 and 1973 monsoon was weak resulting in drought in most parts of the country. Moreover, the burden of feeding and sheltering 10 million Bangladeshi refugees depleted food reserves.

 

3) Oil Crisis of 1973: Due to this oil shock oil prices increased four-fold which increased petroleum and fertilizer prices. Thus, worsening the foreign reserves, increasing budgetary deficit and thereby worsening economic condition.

 

4) Large scale strikes: Economic recession, unemployment, price rise and scarcity of goods led to large scale industrial strikes. For example, 22 days Railway Strike. 

 

5) Corruption: Corruption was increased rampantly due to above events. E.g. Indira Gandhi’s son Sanjay Gandhi was given license to manufacture 50,000 Maruti cars a year. 

 

6) Various groups alienated from Indira Gandhi: The middle class because of price rise and corruption, rich peasantry because of land reforms and capitalists because of socialism.

4. Pre-Emergency Events

1) Gujarat Unrest: In 1974. student movement was exploded due to price rise in food items and essential commodities. This student movement was soon joined by opposition parties. For more than 10 weeks Gujarat experienced strikes and anarchy which finally led to resignation of the state government and imposition of Presidents Rule in state.

 

2) Bihar protests: Inspired by Gujarat success, similar protests were started in Bihar state by the students. Like Gujarat, this movement too joined by opposition parties. However, Bihar protests had two new features. One, it was joined by Jayprakash Narayan (Gandhian) who took leadership and gave call for ‘Total Revolution’. Second, Indira Gandhi was firm on her decision to not dissolve state assembly like in Gujarat. 

 

3) Immediate cause: The election petition was filed by Raj Narain convicting Indira Gandhi for malpractices in elections. Justice Jagmohanlal Sinha of Allahabad High Court has given verdict that Indira Gandhi used unfair means to win election. Thus, verdict made Indira Gandhi’s election void and banned her from participating in elections for 6 years. 

 

4) Indira Gandhi appealed to Supreme Court against verdict of Allahabad High Court. Supreme Court allowed her to continue as MP till the result of case arrive. 

5. Emergency years (25 June 1975 - 21 March 1977)

1) The internal emergency has been proclaimed under article 352 of the constitution by the President Fakhruddin ALi Ali Ahmad on 25th June 1975.

 

2) About 100,000 people were imprisoned including renowned opposition leaders such as Morarji Desai, Jayprakash Narayan, Atal Bihari Vajpayee etc.

 

3) The government imposed strict censorship on the press and suppressed all opposition and protest to the government. 

 

4) Draconian Law : The acts like MISA (Maintenance of Internal Security Act) were passed during emergency. This act allowed arrests and detention without giving any reason. 

 

5) Nasbandi (Sterilization) and demolition of slums: Sanjay Gandhi’s notorious sterilization program was known to everyone. Under this program, large scale forced sterilization were made thereby maligning image of the congress further. Moreover, forced removal of slums in Delhi without thinking about the rights and future of the people further tarnished image of the Congress.

 

6) 42nd Amendment Act: 1976:  This amendment introduced to undermine the power of Judicial Review. There was tussle going on between Parliament and Judiciary. Background events for this amendment: 

    i) Golaknath Case 1967: Government stated that Parliament has power to amend Fundamental Rights but Supreme Court in this case stated that Parliament can not amend Fundamental Rights. 

    ii) 24th Amendment Act 1971: In response to the above verdict, government had passed 24th amendment to the constitution, thus allowing government to amend any part from the constitution. 

6. After Emergency

1) Janata Party (alliance of Congress(O), Jan Sangh, Bhartiy Lok Dal and Socialist Party). Janata Party and alliance (DMK, CPM and Akali Dal) won the 1977 elections. 

 

2) Janata Party and its allies won 330 seats out of 542 seats. Congress won only 154 seats. Congress virtually got wiped from North India and won just 2 seats out of 234 seats in seven North Indian states.

 

3) Moraraji Desai became the first non-congress Prime Minister. 

 

4) The Janata Government restored fundamental rights and civil liberties. Press censorship was removed.

 

5) 44th constitutional amendment 1978 was enacted to restore the provisions in the constitution which were changed through 42nd constitutional amendment.

 

6) The power of judicial review of Supreme Court and High Courts was also restored. 

7. Key Takeaways

1) Strong Opposition: It is vital that opposition should be strong so that it balances and checks the power of the ruling party. 

 

2) Separation of powers: There should be separation of powers between various institutions of Governance. For example, Executive, Judiciary and Legislative. Each institution has its independence and it should be respected by other institution. 

 

3) People Awareness: People should know their rights and they should raise their voice in case of authoritarian tendencies in the government. For example, recent protests by farmers from Punjab and Haryana against new laws. 

 

4) Media: Media is the fourth pillar of Democracy and there should be no unnecessary restrictions on their freedom of speech and expression. Also, media should be independent of anyone’s influence then only it could act as fourth pillar of Democracy. 

 

👉🏻 Also Read: India is in Space after 41 Years. 

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