The Indian Emergency of 25 June 1975 21 March 1977

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25 June 1975 21 March 1977

The Indian Emergency

was a 21-month period, when President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, upon advice by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, declared a state of emergency
It is one of the most

controversial times in the history of independent India.

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Background

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Political Unrest
Opponents Allegations - that

Indira's party had practiced electoral fraud to win the 1971 elections
Narayan and his supporters

sought to unify in a 'Total Revolution' to nonviolently transform Indian society.

Indira's party was defeated in

Gujarat by Janata (People's Party).

Party

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The Allahabad Conviction

Raj Narain lodged cases of election fraud and use of state machinery for election purposes against Mrs. Indira Gandhi. On 12 June 1975, Justice Jagmohanlal Sinha of the Allahabad High Court found the Prime Minister guilty. Banned her from contesting election for six years Primary reason for the imposition of 4/23/12 emergency

Declaration of Emergency
Siddharth Sankar Ray proposed

the imposition of "internal emergency".

There is an imminent danger to

the security of India being threatened by internal disturbances.

He showed how democratic

freedom could be suspended while remaining within the ambit

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The Emergency Administration

Indira granted herself extraordinary powers and

launched a massive crackdown on civil liberties and political opposition laws

She utilized the President to issue extraordinary Supreme Court of India ordered that, although the

Constitution is subject to amendment, changes that are ultra vires to its basic structure cannot be made by the Parliament of India.

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Sikh Opposition

The Sikh leadership convened meetings in Amritsar to oppose

the fascist tendency of the Congress

They come out in large numbers each month on the day of the

new moon, symbolizing the dark night of Indian democracy, to court arrest.

140,000 people had been arrested without trial of them 40,000

had come from 2% Sikh minority.

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Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh

RSS with its large organizational base, which was

close to opposition leaders was seen potential of organizing protests against the Government, was also banned.
The RSS defied the ban and thousands participated

in Satyagraha
The movement was "dominated by tens of thousands

of RSS cadres, though more and more young recruits are coming".

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Elections of 1977
On Jan 23, 1977, Indira Gandhi called fresh

elections for March and released all political prisoners.

The Janata movement's warned Indians to

choose between democracy and dictatorship.

Many Congress Party loyalists deserted

Indira, who herself lost her constituency seat.

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The Debate Over Its Legacy

Indira's Emergency rule lasted 21 months Some have argued that India badly needed economic

recovery after the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war had strained the exchequer.

Others have argued that Indira's 20-point economic

program increased agricultural production, manufacturing activity, exports and foreign reserves.
Communal Hindu-Muslim riots, which had re-surfaced

in the 1960s and 1970s, reduced in intensity, leading to increased productivity. 4/23/12

Charges Against The Government

Detention of people by police without charge or

notification of families

Abuse and torture of detainees and political prisoners Use of public and private media institutions Forced sterilization of men and women under the

family planning initiative

Destruction of the slum and low-income housing in

the Turkmen Gate and Jama Masjid area of old Delhi. modifications to the Constitution) which shifted the 4/23/12 country towards socialism.

Large scale and illegal enactment of laws (including

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