The crisis of democratic orderClass 12 Politics in India Since Independence NCERT Solutions
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Q1Questions
State whether the following statements regarding the Emergency are correct or incorrect.
(a)
It was declared in 1975 by Indira Gandhi.
(b)
It led to the suspension of all fundamental rights.
(c)
It was proclaimed due to the deteriorating economic conditions.
(d)
Many Opposition leaders were arrested during the emergency.
(e) CPI supported the proclamation of the Emergency.
Solution
(a) Correct. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi recommended the imposition of Emergency to President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed on the night of 25 June 1975.
(b) Correct. The text states that under the provisions of Emergency, the various Fundamental Rights of citizens stood suspended, including the right of citizens to move the Court to restore them.
(c) Incorrect. While deteriorating economic conditions formed the background context of social and political unrest, the official reason given by the government for proclaiming the Emergency was the perceived 'threat of internal disturbances' under Article 352 of the Constitution.
(d) Correct. Immediately after the proclamation of Emergency, a large number of leaders and workers of the opposition parties were arrested and put in jail.
(e) Correct. Although not explicitly stated in the provided chapter text, historically, the Communist Party of India (CPI) supported the proclamation of the Emergency.
Q2Questions
Find the odd one out in the context of proclamation of Emergency
(a)
The call for 'Total Revolution.
(b)
The Railway Strike of 1974
(c)
The Naxalite Movement
(d)
The Allahbad High Court verdict
(e) The findings of the Shah Commission Report
Solution
The odd one out is (e) The findings of the Shah Commission Report.
Reasoning:
All the other options—(a) The call for 'Total Revolution', (b) The Railway Strike of 1974, (c) The Naxalite Movement, and (d) The Allahabad High Court verdict—were events that took place before the Emergency was declared. They represent the political, social, and judicial background and the immediate triggers that led to its proclamation in June 1975.
In contrast, the Shah Commission was appointed by the Janata Party government in 1977, after the Emergency was over, to investigate the excesses and abuse of power that occurred during the Emergency period. Therefore, its findings are a consequence or an aftermath of the Emergency, not a part of the context leading to its proclamation.
Q3Questions
Match the following
(a)
Total Revolution
(b)
Garibi hatao
(c)
Students' Protest
(d)
Railway Strike
i. Indira Gandhi
ii. Jayaprakash Narayan
iii. Bihar Movement
iv. George Fernandes
Solution
The correct matches are as follows:
- (a) Total Revolution matches with (ii) Jayaprakash Narayan. He gave a call for total revolution in the social, economic, and political spheres during the Bihar Movement.
- (b) Garibi hatao matches with (i) Indira Gandhi. This slogan (remove poverty) was given by her and the Congress party during the 1971 elections.
- (c) Students' Protest matches with (iii) Bihar Movement. The movement in Bihar in March 1974 was started by students protesting against rising prices, food scarcity, unemployment, and corruption.
- (d) Railway Strike matches with (iv) George Fernandes. He was the leader of the National Coordination Committee for Railwaymen's Struggle, which gave a call for a nationwide strike in 1974.
Q4Questions
What were the reasons which led to the mid-term elections in 1980?
Solution
The mid-term elections in 1980 were necessitated by the instability and collapse of the Janata Party government that came to power in 1977. The primary reasons were:
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Internal Conflicts and Lack of Cohesion: The Janata Party was a coalition of disparate political groups that had united to oppose the Emergency. It lacked a common programme, direction, and strong leadership. There was a constant power struggle among its top leaders—Morarji Desai, Charan Singh, and Jagjivan Ram.
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Fall of the Morarji Desai Government: Due to these internal conflicts, the Janata Party split, and the government led by Morarji Desai lost its majority in the Lok Sabha in less than 28 months.
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Collapse of the Charan Singh Government: After Desai's resignation, Charan Singh formed a new government with the assurance of support from the Congress party. However, the Congress party withdrew its support just four months later. This led to the fall of the Charan Singh government as well.
This sequence of political instability and the inability of any coalition to maintain a majority in the Lok Sabha led to the dissolution of the house and the calling of fresh elections in January 1980.
Q5Questions
The Shah Commission was appointed in 1977 by the Janata Party Government. Why was it appointed and what were its findings?
Solution
Reason for Appointment:
The Shah Commission of Inquiry was appointed in May 1977 by the newly formed Janata Party government. The primary purpose of its appointment was to investigate the various allegations of abuse of authority, excesses, and malpractices committed during the period of the National Emergency (1975-1977). The government wanted a formal inquiry into the decisions made and actions taken during this period, including the circumstances that led to the declaration of the Emergency.
Findings of the Commission:
While the provided chapter does not list all the findings, it highlights a crucial one related to the functioning of government institutions. According to the Shah Commission Report, the Emergency period saw a severe compromise of institutional integrity. Specifically, it found that:
- The administration and the police became vulnerable to political pressures.
- These institutions, which were meant to function independently, were turned into political instruments of the ruling party.
This finding pointed to a serious problem where the distinction between the ruling party and the state had blurred, and government machinery was used to suppress dissent and strengthen the hold of the executive.
Q6Questions
What reasons did the Government give for declaring a National Emergency in 1975?
Solution
The government, led by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, gave the following official reason for declaring a National Emergency on 25 June 1975:
- Threat of Internal Disturbances: The government invoked Article 352 of the Constitution, which allowed for the proclamation of an emergency if the security of India was threatened by war, external aggression, or internal disturbance. The government argued that a grave crisis had arisen due to ongoing protests and agitations, which constituted a threat of internal disturbances.
This decision was made in the context of a series of events that the government perceived as a challenge to its authority:
- Mass Protests: The student movements in Gujarat and Bihar, which had escalated into mass agitations against the Congress government.
- Call for 'Total Revolution': The movement was led by Jayaprakash Narayan (JP), who had given a call for 'Total Revolution' and was mobilizing opposition parties against Indira Gandhi's leadership.
- Incitement to Disobey Orders: At a massive rally in Delhi on 25 June 1975, JP announced a nationwide satyagraha for Indira Gandhi's resignation and asked the army, the police, and government employees not to obey what he termed "illegal and immoral orders".
The government interpreted these actions, especially the call for state functionaries to disobey orders, as an attempt to destabilize the country and bring the activities of the government to a standstill, thereby justifying the need for imposing an Emergency.
Q7Questions
The 1977 elections for the first time saw the Opposition coming into power at the Centre. What would you consider as the reasons for this development?
Solution
The victory of the opposition in the 1977 Lok Sabha elections, a landmark event in Indian politics, was the result of several interconnected factors:
-
Public Verdict against the Emergency: The election was widely seen as a referendum on the 21-month-long Emergency. The opposition, united under the Janata Party banner, successfully campaigned on the slogan of 'save democracy'. The public, especially in north India, had directly experienced the excesses of the Emergency, such as the suspension of fundamental rights, press censorship, and forced sterilization programs. This created strong anti-Congress sentiment.
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Formation of the Janata Party: For the first time, major non-Congress opposition parties (like the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, Congress (O), Socialist Party, and Bharatiya Lok Dal) set aside their differences and came together to form a single party, the Janata Party. This ensured that the anti-Congress votes were not divided, presenting a credible and united alternative to the voters.
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Leadership of Jayaprakash Narayan: Jayaprakash Narayan (JP) emerged as the moral and political symbol of the opposition. His leadership lent immense credibility and popular appeal to the Janata Party's campaign for the restoration of democracy.
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Defections from the Congress: The opposition was further strengthened when influential Congress leaders like Jagjivan Ram, who were against the Emergency, left the party and formed the 'Congress for Democracy', which later merged with the Janata Party. This sent a strong signal of dissent from within the ruling establishment.
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Impact on North India: The impact of the Emergency was most severe in the northern states. Consequently, the electoral wave against the Congress was massive in this region. The Congress was wiped out in states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, and Punjab, which was decisive for the national outcome.
Q8Questions
Discuss the effects of Emergency on the following aspects of our polity. Effects on civil liberties for citizens. Impact on relationship between the Executive and Judiciary Functioning of Mass Media Working of the Police and Bureaucracy.
Solution
The imposition of Emergency had profound and detrimental effects on various aspects of India's polity:
-
Effects on Civil Liberties for Citizens: Civil liberties were severely curtailed. The government suspended the enforcement of Fundamental Rights. Citizens lost the right to move the court to challenge their detention. The government made extensive use of 'preventive detention', arresting thousands of political workers and activists not for any committed crime but on the apprehension that they might commit one. The Supreme Court, in a controversial judgment, upheld the government's view that even the right to life and liberty could be taken away during the Emergency, effectively closing the doors of the judiciary for citizens seeking protection.
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Impact on Relationship between the Executive and Judiciary: The relationship between the executive and the judiciary, already strained, reached a crisis point. The government asserted its supremacy over the judiciary. A key example was the appointment of Justice A. N. Ray as the Chief Justice of India in 1973 by superseding three senior judges who had given rulings against the government. During the Emergency, the Parliament passed the 42nd Amendment, which brought in sweeping changes to the Constitution, further limiting the scope of judicial review and enhancing the powers of the executive.
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Functioning of Mass Media: The freedom of the press was completely suspended. The government imposed strict press censorship, requiring newspapers to get prior approval for all material before publication. The electricity supply to major newspaper offices was disconnected on the night the Emergency was proclaimed to prevent them from reporting the news of mass arrests. In protest, some newspapers like the Indian Express and the Statesman left blank spaces in their editorial columns, while magazines like Seminar and Mainstream chose to shut down rather than submit to censorship.
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Working of the Police and Bureaucracy: The police and the administration lost their independent functioning and became instruments of the ruling party's political will. According to the Shah Commission Report, which investigated the Emergency excesses, these institutions became vulnerable to political pressures. They were used to implement the government's orders, including the arrest of political opponents and the enforcement of controversial programs, without regard for the rule of law.
Q9Questions
In what way did the imposition of Emergency affect the party system in India? Elaborate your answer with examples.
Solution
The imposition of the Emergency and the political developments surrounding it had a lasting impact on the party system in India in the following ways:
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Consolidation of 'Non-Congressism': The Emergency served as a catalyst for uniting the fragmented opposition. The shared experience of being targeted by the government brought various non-Congress parties with different ideologies together. This led to the formation of the Janata Party in 1977, which was a grand coalition of parties like the Bharatiya Jana Sangh, Congress (O), and the Socialist Party. This was the first successful experiment of 'non-Congressism' at the national level, establishing a precedent that opposition parties needed to unite to defeat the Congress.
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Shift in the Nature of the Congress Party: The Congress party, which had historically been an 'umbrella party' accommodating diverse factions and ideologies, transformed into a more centralized organization revolving around a single leader, Indira Gandhi. The party began to identify itself with a specific pro-poor and socialist ideology, moving away from its catch-all character. Its political success became heavily dependent on the personal appeal of its leader.
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Rise of Backward Caste Politics: The 1977 election results revealed a significant shift in the social base of parties, particularly in north India. The middle and backward castes, who felt alienated by the Congress, largely supported the Janata Party. The victory of the Janata Party brought leaders from these communities to power in many northern states. This empowerment led to the issue of reservations for 'Other Backward Classes' (OBCs) gaining prominence, culminating in the Janata government's appointment of the Mandal Commission. This marked the beginning of an era where caste-based mobilization became a central feature of the Indian party system.
Q10Questions
Read the passage and answer the questions below: Indian democracy was never so close to a two-party system as it was during the 1977 elections. However, the next few years saw a complete change. Soon after its defeat, the Indian National Congress split into two groups........... ... ... ...The Janata Party also went through major convulsions.....David Butler, Ashok Lahiri and Prannoy Roy. - Partha Chatterjee
(a)
What made the party system in India look like a two-party system in 1977?
(b)
Many more than two parties existed in 1977. Why then are the authors describing this period as close to a two-party system?
(c)
What caused splits in Congress and the Janata parties?
Solution
(a) The party system in India appeared to be a two-party system in the 1977 elections because the political contest was primarily bipolar. On one side was the ruling Indian National Congress. On the other side, most major opposition parties had merged to form a single, cohesive entity—the Janata Party. This created a direct electoral confrontation between two major national political formations, which is characteristic of a two-party system.
(b) The authors describe this period as close to a two-party system, despite the existence of multiple parties, because of the nature of political competition. The Janata Party acted as a grand coalition or an umbrella platform for the opposition, consolidating the non-Congress votes. Even though it was composed of several constituent parties, it contested the election as a single unit with a common symbol and platform. This aggregation of diverse political forces into two major opposing blocs—Congress and Janata Party—made the system function like a two-party system for that election.
(c) The causes for the splits were:
- Janata Party: The Janata Party split due to a lack of internal cohesion, direction, and a common programme. Its primary unifying factor was opposition to the Emergency. Once in power, intense leadership rivalries and power struggles among its main leaders—Morarji Desai, Charan Singh, and Jagjivan Ram—led to its disintegration and the collapse of its government in less than three years.
- Indian National Congress: According to the passage, the Congress split soon after its defeat in the 1977 elections. The massive and unexpected loss created internal turmoil and challenges to the existing leadership, leading to a split within the party.