India's only national emergency by Indira Gandhi

June 25, 1975: India's first and last (till date) National Emergency was imposed from 25 June 1975 until its withdrawal on 21 March 1977.

India's only national emergency by Indira Gandhi

---

• June 25, 1975: India's first and last (till date) National Emergency was imposed from 25 June 1975 until its withdrawal on 21 March 1977. The order was issued by President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed under Article 352, and it gave the PM Indira Gandhi the authority to rule by decree. In the early hours of June 26, hundreds of political leaders, activists, and trade unionists were jailed. An analysis shows that the primary reasons were all internal to India, and not external at all.
• Why emergency: A goal of the 21-month-long Emergency in the country was to control “internal disturbance”, for which the constitutional rights were suspended and freedom of speech and the press withdrawn. Logic given was one of 'national interest', due to three reasons.

1. First, India’s security and democracy was in danger owing to the movement launched by Jayaprakash Narayan.
2. Second, the PM was of the opinion that there was a need for rapid economic development and upliftment of the underprivileged.
3. Third, the PM warned against the intervention of powers from abroad which could destabilise and weaken India.

• Difficult period: The years before the Emergency saw many economic troubles — growing unemployment, rising inflation and paucity of food. There were many riots and protests across India, but the borders of the country were quiet! The trouble first started in Gujarat, spread to Bihar and from there to several other parts of Northern India. And then the final straw came in the forms of the petition filed in the Allahabad High Court.
• Key triggers for emergency: There were at least four triggers in the 1970s -

1. Navnirman Andolan in Gujarat - In December 1973, students of LD College of Engineering in Ahmedabad went on a strike to protest the hike in fees. Then the Gujarat University erupted in protest, demanding dismissal of the state government. This ‘Navnirman movement’ (movement for regeneration) happened under the Congress rule of CM Chimanbhai Patel, who enjoyed a reputation for corruption. Soon factory workers and other people joined in, and clashes with the police, burning of buses and government office and attacks on ration shops became common. By February 1974, the central government suspended the Assembly and imposed President’s rule. Then in March 1975, Indira Gandhi dissolved the assembly and announced fresh elections.
2. The JP movement - A similar movement was launched in Bihar when a student protest erupted in March 1974, and opposition forces lent their strength. It was headed by 71-year-old freedom fighter Jayaprakash Narayan or JP. PM Indira Gandhi did not concede to the suspension of the Assembly. A hero of the freedom struggle, JP was known for his selfless activism since the days of the nationalist movement. His entry gave the struggle a great boost, and also changed its name to the ‘JP movement’. He motivated students to boycott classes and work towards raising the collective consciousness. Clashes ensued. In June 1974, JP led a procession through Patna culminating in a call for ‘total revolution’. Then JP toured large sections of North India, drawing students, traders and sections of the intelligentsia towards his movement, facing off PM Indira Gandhi directly.
3. The railways’ protest - A railways strike led by socialist leader George Fernandes started in May 1974, resulting in the halt of the movement of goods and people. A million railwaymen participated, with militant demonstrations in many towns and cities. Indira government came down heavily on the protesters.
4. The Raj Narain verdict - While the streets were raging in protest, a threat emerged in the form of a petition filed in the Allahabad High Court by socialist leader Raj Narain who lost to Gandhi in Raebareli parliamentary elections of 1971. It accused the PM of having won the elections through corrupt practices, and alleged that she spent more money than was allowed and further that her campaign was carried out by government officials. On March 19, 1975, Gandhi became the first Indian PM to testify in court. On June 12, 1975, Justice Sinha read out the judgment in the Allahabad High Court declaring Gandhi’s election to Parliament as null and void, and she was given a span of 20 days to appeal to the Supreme Court. On June 24, the Supreme Court put a conditional stay on the High Court order: Gandhi could attend Parliament, but would not be allowed to vote unless the court pronounced on her appeal. The judgments gave the impetus to the JP movement, convincing them of their demand for the resignation of the PM. But Indira Gandhi firmly held on to the prime ministerial position.

• Summary: A day after the Supreme Court judgment, an ordinance was drafted declaring a state of internal emergency and the President signed on it immediately. In her letter to the President requesting the declaration of Emergency, Gandhi wrote, “Information has reached us that indicate imminent danger to the security of India.” On 18 January 1977, Indira called fresh elections, and the Emergency officially ended on 21 March 1977. The opposition Janata movement's campaign warned Indians that the elections might be their last chance to choose between "democracy and dictatorship."

 

Join PT courses | PT Youtube | PT App | Contribute |  Testimonials