In the morning of 26th June, when people were on their radio to listen to the news as usual, they heard the voice of Indira Gandhi. Indira Gandhi stated that, “Brothers, sisters…The President has declared a state of emergency. But common people need not to be afraid of this.”
Reasons behind emergency
Conflict with the judiciary
By 1972, except Tamil Nadu the whole India was under Congress government. Indira being popular at that time, she made many changes in the Indian policies. She took two big decisions during her rule, that was abolition of Privy Purse and Nationalization of Banks. These decisions were challenged in the Supreme Court. The Court dismissed both the decisions by Indira.
She was unhappy with the decision of the court so to remove the judicial obstacles she brought the 24th and 25th Constitutional Amendment.5th November 1971 was the day when 24th Amendment was brought.
It said that, “Parliament can bring changes in any part of the constitution.”
It said that, “Parliament can bring changes in any part of the constitution.”
In April 1972, the 25th Amendment was brought which said that “When the private property is used for public use, then the amount of compensation will be decided by the government, the court cannot interfere in that.”
These Amendments were challenged in the court and through Kesavananda Bharati case, the judiciary restored its power but the power tussle between judiciary and Indira Gandhi kept increasing.
Indira Gandhi was not able to fulfil her promises with the nation which led to more poverty in India. On 20 November 1973, students of LD Engineering college started protesting against the government due to increasing inflation. Students of Bihar also protested. There was a railway strike. These protests slowly spread over India with the help of Jai Prakash Narayan, a social worker.
Judgment of Allahabad Court
On 22 June, Judge of Allahabad High Court Jagmohan Lal Sinha cancelled the election of Indira Gandhi, accusing her of using unfair means to win the election. Indira could not take part in the election for the next 6 years.
This judgment was taken to the Supreme Court two days before the implementation of the emergency. The Supreme Court upheld the decision of Allahabad High Court and allowed Indira Gandhi to remain the Prime Minister but without voting power.
On 25th June, Jayprakash Narayan announced that if Indira does not give up her position as a prime minister, then whole India will go on protest.
As Jai Prakash Narayan began traversing India to unite anti-Congress parties and the protests intensified, Indira imposed the Emergency on June 25, 1975.
Indira Gandhi mentioned three reasons for the emergency in 1975
Indira Gandhi mentioned three reasons for the emergency in 1975
- Due to the protest started by Jai Prakash Narayan, there was a threat to India’s security and parliament.
- According to her views, there is a need to develop fast economic development and backward classes in India.
- She said that the foreign power supplied to India can make it unstable.
Emergency can be implemented only when there is an internal, external or financial risk to the country. Indira Gandhi used Article 352 to impose emergency. She did not consult her cabinet regarding imposition of emergency.
During the emergency, power cuts were there in many newspaper offices. Censorship was implemented in the press. At midnight, people were taken somewhere else. People were getting arrested everywhere. Around 11000 opposition leaders including Atal Bihari and Advani were arrested as soon as emergency was imposed. Jayprakash Narayan was also arrested. The arrested people could not even apply for bail.
A new regime of censorship began with Vidyacharan Shukla becoming the Information and Broadcasting minister. The media was in full control of Indira Gandhi. LK Advani had famously chastised Indian media during the Emergency: “You were asked to bend, but you crawled.” Jayprakash Narayan also termed this emergency a black chapter in India’s democratic political history.
On the other hand, Sanjay Gandhi implemented 5 agendas in the name of development of the country. They were: Elimination of dowry system, Adult education, planting trees, eradication of caste system and the most dangerous one, Sterilization. Over 60 lakh people had to go through sterilization in one year.
Indira Gandhi announced the end of the emergency on March 21, 1977. In the general elections held after the emergency, Indira Gandhi faced her biggest defeat and for the first time a non-congress government led by Moraji Desai came to power.
Somewhere, the Indian democracy emerged stronger after the emergency. This emergency made all the government leaders concerned about fulfilling the public's demand. Regardless of your popularity, if you are not keeping up the promises made to the public, you will be dethroned immediately. It is important to know that the ultimate power lies with the public. This helped the recent political leaders to take steps wisely.
Written by: Radhika Agrawal
Edited by: Aastha setia
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