Emergency In India (1975 - 1977) - The Complete Story Of Emergency

 Emergency In India (1975 - 1977) - The Complete Story Of Emergency

 

Emergency In India (1975-1977)

What is an 'emergency' ?

Emergency is a provision in the Indian constitution, which is used when the country is in danger of any internal, external or financial threat.

 

Why is an Emergency needed?

The framers of the Constitution had envisioned a state of emergency keeping in mind the times in which the unity, integrity and security of the country are endangered. Keeping this in mind, some such provisions were made, under which the central government could take serious decisions without any restriction.

For example, if a neighboring country attacks us like ,

(Emergency In India (1975 - 1977) - The Complete Story Of Emergency)

 then our government should not pass any kind of bill in Parliament for retaliation. Since there is parliamentary democracy in our country, our country has to first pass a bill in Parliament to fight any country. But there are such provisions in the Constitution for emergency situations,

Under which the central government gets more powers and the central government is able to take decisions on its own. The Central Government gets the powers to take the country out of emergency.

Provision of three types of emergency in the constitution

There are three types of emergency mentioned in the Indian constitution.

1.     National Emergency

2.     State Emergency

3.     Economic Emergency

 

1. National Emergency (Article 352)

National emergency can be declared in the country under severe conditions. It can be announced on the basis of war, external aggression and national security. During an emergency, the government has unlimited rights, which it can use in any form, but all the rights of ordinary citizens are taken away. The National Emergency is implemented by the President on the recommendation of the Cabinet.

 

During this emergency, Article 19 of the fundamental rights mentioned in the constitution is automatically suspended. But during this, Article 20 and Article 21 remain in existence.

2. President's rule or State Emergency (Article 356)

Under Article 356 of the Constitution, in view of the political crisis in the state, the President can declare a state of emergency in the concerned state. When the political and constitutional system of a state fails or the state is unable to comply with any directives of the executive of the center, then only in this situation the President's rule applies.

In this situation, except for the judicial functions of the state, the center takes all the state administration authority into its own hands. With some modifications, its limit can be at least 2 months and up to 3 years at most. Usually, when state governments fail to run the government as per the constitution, the President declares emergency on the recommendation of the Center.

3. Economic emergency (Article 360)

By the way, the economic emergency has not been implemented in the country so far. But it is well defined in the constitution. Under Article 360, the President can declare an economic emergency when he feels that there is an economic crisis in the country, due to which the financial stability or goodwill of India is threatened.

If the country ever faces odd situations like economic crisis and the government falls on the verge of bankruptcy or the Indian economy is on the verge of collapse, then this article of economic emergency can be used. is. In such an emergency, the country will have the right over the money and property of ordinary citizens.

Explain that out of the three emergency situations mentioned in the Indian Constitution, except for the economic emergency, both have been implemented.

Story Of Emergency In India (1975 - 1977)

Indira Gandhi

 

 

Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Who declared the National Emergency with the President of India Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed.

Emergency was declared in India over a period of 21 months from 25 June 1975 to 21 March 1977. The then President, Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed declared a state of emergency under Article 352 of the Indian Constitution at the behest of the then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. This was the most controversial and undemocratic period in the history of independent India.

Elections were postponed in the Emergency and civil rights were abolished arbitrarily. Indira Gandhi's political opponents were imprisoned and banned from the press. A massive vasectomy campaign was carried out under the leadership of the Prime Minister's son Sanjay Gandhi. Jayaprakash Narayan called it 'the darkest period of Indian history'.

 (Emergency In India (1975 - 1977) - The Complete Story Of Emergency)

Between 1967 and 1971, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi took control of the government and the Indian National Congress Party as well as an overwhelming majority in Parliament. Indira Gandhi cleverly separated her rivals, which led to the Congress split and 1969. - In two parts, the Congress (O) (known as "Syndicate" which includes the old guard) and the Congress (R) which was on Indira's side got divided.

After this Indira Gandhi became autocratic. Congress meant Indira Gandhi. Spices like Devakant Barua started to sing the melody of 'Indira is India and India is Indira'. All the sources of both organization and governance were in the hands of Indira Gandhi. In such an environment, the ruling people become dictators. Around Indira Gandhi, an arbitrary group of Bansi Lal, Vidyashankar Shukla, Sanjay Gandhi, Siddharth Shankar Ray etc. became.

 

'Navnirman Andolan'

 

'Navnirman Andolan'

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the other hand, socialist leader Rajnarayan had sued Indira Gandhi for adopting wrong means in Rae Bareli election. Yashpal Kapoor, Steno of Indira Gandhi, worked in his election while in government service. He was most likely to lose in court. She was very upset by this. Here, the students of Gujarat launched the 'Navnirman Andolan' against the corrupt rule of Chimanbhai Patel. This movement reached Bihar through Gujarat.

 (Emergency In India (1975 - 1977) - The Complete Story Of Emergency)

Indira Gandhi left no stone unturned to crush the movement. Nanaji Deshmukh of Bharatiya Jana Sangh, Govindacharya of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and Sushil Modi etc. were also fully active. At the Patna rally held on November 4, 1974, Nanaji lay down on him to save JP from lathicharge. This broke his hand; But JP survived.

 

Role of RSS

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh was banned because it was believed that the organization was close to the opposition leaders and its large organizational base was likely to protest against the government. The police cracked down on this organization and thousands of its activists were imprisoned. The RSS challenged the ban and thousands of volunteers participated in the satyagraha against the ban and the violation of fundamental rights.

 

Protest by Sikhs

The whole of India was in a state of shock after the leaders of all opposition parties and other outspoken critics of the government were arrested and sent behind bars. Shortly after the declaration of emergency, the Sikh leadership held meetings in Amritsar where they resolved to oppose the "fascist tendency of the Congress". The first mass protest in the country was organized by the Akali Dal, known as the "Campaign for the Defense of Democracy". It was launched on 6 July in Amritsar.

First Non-Congress Government

Morarji Desai: First Non-Congress Prime Minister (1977–1979)

 

First Non-Congress Government

Nearly two years after the imposition of the Emergency, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi recommended dissolution of the Lok Sabha and holding elections. The decision to impose emergency in elections proved fatal for the Congress. Indira Gandhi herself lost the election to her stronghold Rae Bareli. The Janata Party came to power with an overwhelming majority and Morarji Desai became the Prime Minister.

(Emergency In India (1975 - 1977) - The Complete Story Of Emergency)

The number of Congress members in Parliament was reduced from 350 to 153 and after 30 years a non-Congress government was formed at the Center. The Congress did not get a single seat in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi. The new government constituted the Shah Commission to investigate the decisions taken during the Emergency. However, the new government lasted only two years and the government collapsed in 1979 due to internal contradictions.

Deputy Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh raised the question of dual membership of some ministers who were also members of the Jana Sangh. On this issue, Charan Singh withdrew his support from the government and formed the government with the support of the Congress, but lasted only five months. The name of the Prime Minister, who never went to Parliament, was recorded.

During The Emergency

 

The Situation Of People

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1975

i.        On 12 June 1975, Indira Gandhi was found guilty by the Allahabad High Court and was evicted from the post for six years. 14 charges such as bribing voters on Indira Gandhi, misuse of government machinery, misuse of government resources were proved but habitually Mrs. Gandhi ridiculed the judiciary by not accepting them. Raj Narayan filed the case in 1971 after losing to Indira Gandhi at Rae Bareli. This decision was delivered by Justice Jagmohanlal Sinha.

ii.      On 24 June 1975, the Supreme Court upheld the order, but allowed Indira to continue in the Prime Minister's chair, which was also required to happen as it happens in the monarchy.

iii.    On 25 June 1975, Jayaprakash Narayan called for a nationwide protest till Indira resigned despite her unwillingness.

iv.   On June 25, 1975, after passing the President's Ordinance, the Government imposed the Emergency.

1976

i.        September 1976 - Sanjay Gandhi orders mandatory vasectomy across the country. The intention of the government behind this vasectomy was to control the population of the country. Under this, sterilization was done against the will of the people. The exact extent of Sanjay Gandhi's role in the implementation of the program is disputed, with some authors directly attributing Gandhi to his authoritarianism, And other writers blaming the authorities who implemented the program instead of Gandhi himself. Rukhsana Sultana was a socialist known for being one of Sanjay Gandhi's close associates and gained much notoriety in the leadership of Sanjay Gandhi's sterilization campaign in the Muslim areas of Old Delhi.

1977

i.            January 14 - Indira Gandhi dissolved the Lok Sabha and announced that there will be general elections for the Lok Sabha in March. All political prisoners were released.

ii.          March 23 - Emergency ends

iii.    March 14 - 20 - Elections to the 7th Lok Sabha are over. The Janata Party came to power with an overwhelming majority. The number of Congress members in Parliament was reduced from 350 to 153 and after 30 years a non-Congress government was formed at the Center. Indira Gandhi herself and Sanjay Gandhi lost the election. Morarji Desai became Prime Minister. The Congress did not get a single seat in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi.

iv.       The new government constituted the Shah Commission to investigate decisions taken during the Emergency.

 

Conclusion

The conclusions drawn by Nanaji from his experience do not seem to be wrong. Because most of the anti-Emergency leaders and parties are now sitting in the lap of the Congress. The only exception is the union and the social and political institutions of union thought.
(Emergency In India (1975 - 1977) - The Complete Story Of Emergency)

Black days like 1975 may not come again; But when the true democracy will come in India, this question definitely worries those who went to jail for the protection of democracy or who conducted the movement underground.