The India Emergency of 1975–1977
25 JUNE : Democracy of India was brought to a grinding halt !
The Indian Emergency of 25th June 1975–21st March 1977 was a 21 Month period when President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed upon advice by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, declared a state of emergency under Article 352 of the Constitution, effectively bestowing on her the power to rule by decree, suspending elections & civil liberties.
This was a dramatic turn in the Indian political affairs. The democracy was brought to a grinding halt and all the fundamental rights and legal remedies protected by the constitution of the republic of India were suspended.
The socio-economic condition of India was in bad shape between 1972–1975. The two wars and the influx of eight million refugees from Bangladesh had strained the economy. There was a sharp increase in oil prices and prices of commodities. A monumentally high level of inflation had caused great distress , and most importantly industrial growth was low and unemployment was high.
The Nav Nirman movement led by the akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad(ABVP)in Gujarat, the Sampoorna Kranti agitation led by Jayaprakash Narayan(JP), and the national strike by the Railway workers union.
The slogan ‘Indira Hatato’ gained momentum and voices seeking the resignation of Indira Gandhi on moral grounds were at their peak.
On the evening of judgement by justice Krishna Iyer, JP recited Ramdhari Singh Dinkar’s “singhasan khali karo ki janta aati hai”in Ramlila ground.
JP also announced a week- long Satyagrah but at 9:30 pm on june 25,1975,the proclamation of Emergency was sent .Opposition leaders of the Jansangh were taken into custody, censorship was imposed on press, cinema, other forms of arts and Fundamental rights suspended and a ban was announced on various organization’s including RSS.
Indira Gandhi tried to defend the emergency on the grounds that she was trying to protect the state and the Indian people. Nevertheless, her emergency rule faced immense criticism and is undoubtedly one of the most controversial periods of the political history of Independent India.
Next year on March 22nd ,1976 Janata Party gains absolute majority.
Sources:
1. Asian Survey, Volume 15, №11, Pages 996–1013, 1975.
2. Political Science Quaterly, Volume 96, №2, Pages 241–259, 1981.
3.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Emergency_(1975%E2%80%931977)
4.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hazaaron_Khwaishein_Aisi
5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Fine_Balance