Introduction

• Indian democracy faced a severe crisis when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared a National Emergency on June 25, 1975.
• Democratic institutions were suppressed, civil liberties were curtailed, and opposition leaders were jailed.
• This was the first and only time India experienced an authoritarian rule since independence.

Background to the Emergency

Several factors contributed to the declaration of the Emergency:

Economic Crisis (Early 1970s)

• Inflation (above 25%) due to oil price hike in 1973.
• Unemployment and food shortages caused public discontent.
• Railway strike of 1974 (led by George Fernandes) paralyzed the economy.

Gujarat and Bihar Movements (1974-75)

• Student protests in Gujarat and Bihar against corruption and price rise turned into mass movements.
• Jayaprakash Narayan (JP Movement) demanded “Total Revolution” and called for Indira Gandhi’s resignation.

Allahabad High Court Verdict (June 12, 1975)

• The Allahabad High Court found Indira Gandhi guilty of election malpractices in the 1971 elections.
• She was disqualified from holding office as PM but refused to step down.

Demand for Indira Gandhi’s Resignation

• Opposition leaders and protesters demanded her resignation.
• Jayaprakash Narayan (JP) led a massive rally in Delhi on June 25, 1975, calling for a nationwide protest.

Declaration of Emergency (June 25, 1975)

• Indira Gandhi recommended President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed declare an Emergency under Article 352.
• The reason given: “internal disturbances” threatening national security.
• Fundamental rights were suspended, and press censorship was imposed.
• Opposition leaders (JP, Morarji Desai, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, L.K. Advani) were arrested.

Consequences of the Emergency

The Emergency had a profound impact on Indian politics and society:

Suspension of Fundamental Rights

• Civil liberties were restricted (freedom of speech, press, and movement).
• Thousands of people were arrested under preventive detention laws.

Press Censorship

• Newspapers were forced to get government approval before publishing.
• Journalists who opposed the government were jailed.

Political Suppression

• Elections to Lok Sabha and State Assemblies were postponed.
• Judiciary was weakened, as courts could not challenge the Emergency.

Forced Sterilization Drive

• Sanjay Gandhi (Indira Gandhi’s son) led an aggressive population control program.
• Forced sterilizations of men and women led to massive public anger.

Constitutional Amendments (42nd Amendment, 1976)

• Indira Gandhi’s government passed the 42nd Amendment, making fundamental changes:
  • Weakened judicial review.
  • Gave Parliament unlimited power to amend the Constitution.
  • Increased the tenure of Lok Sabha from 5 to 6 years.

Popular Resistance to Emergency

Opposition from Political Leaders

• Despite arrests, opposition leaders like Jayaprakash Narayan, Morarji Desai, and Vajpayee continued underground resistance.
• The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Jamaat-e-Islami actively protested against the government.

Role of Judiciary

• The Supreme Court largely upheld the Emergency, except for some individual cases.
• H.R. Khanna (a dissenting judge) opposed the suspension of rights, but the majority of judges supported Indira Gandhi.

Growing Public Anger

• Middle-class resentment grew due to press censorship and forced sterilizations.
• Students and youth organizations actively opposed the government.

The 1977 Elections and Fall of Congress

Announcement of Elections (March 1977)

As public anger grew, Indira Gandhi lifted the Emergency in 1977 and called for general elections.

Formation of the Janata Party

• Opposition parties united to form the Janata Party, led by Morarji Desai, JP, and Vajpayee.
• Promised to restore democracy and punish Emergency excesses.

Election Results: Congress Defeated

• Congress lost the elections for the first time since independence.
• Janata Party won 295 out of 542 seats, and Indira Gandhi lost her own seat from Rae Bareli.
• Morarji Desai became the first non-Congress Prime Minister of India.

Return of Congress and Indira Gandhi (1980)

Internal Conflicts in Janata Party

• The Janata Party faced internal conflicts and weak leadership.
• Morarji Desai resigned in 1979, leading to political instability.

Congress’s Comeback (1980 Elections)

• Indira Gandhi apologized for Emergency excesses and rebranded Congress.
• Congress (I) won 353 seats in the 1980 elections, restoring its dominance.
• Indira Gandhi returned as PM.

Conclusion

• The Emergency (1975-77) was the biggest challenge to Indian democracy.
• It showed how democratic institutions could be undermined under a powerful leader.
• However, the peaceful return to democracy in 1977 proved that democracy in India was strong and resilient.