The crisis of democratic orderClass 12 Politics in India Since Independence Notes

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Section 1 of 6

Background to Emergency

The period leading up to the declaration of Emergency in 1975 was marked by significant social, economic, and political turmoil. While Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had become a powerful leader after 1971, the country faced numerous challenges that created a tense atmosphere.

Economic Context

After the 1971 elections, where the Congress party campaigned on the slogan of garibi hatao (remove poverty), the economic situation in India did not improve. Several factors contributed to this crisis:

  • Bangladesh Crisis: The war with Pakistan and the influx of about eight million refugees from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) placed a massive strain on India's economy.
  • End of Foreign Aid: Following the war, the U.S. government stopped all aid to India.
  • Oil Price Shocks: In the international market, oil prices increased significantly, leading to a sharp rise in the prices of all commodities.
  • High Inflation: Prices rose by 23 percent in 1973 and 30 percent in 1974, causing immense hardship for the people.
  • Industrial and Agricultural Decline: Industrial growth was low, and unemployment was very high, especially in rural areas. The failure of monsoons in 1972-1973 led to an 8 percent decline in food grain production.
  • Government Employee Dissatisfaction: To cut expenses, the government froze the salaries of its employees, which led to further discontent.

This widespread economic distress created a general atmosphere of dissatisfaction across the country, which opposition parties effectively channeled into popular protests. During this time, student unrest grew, and armed insurgent groups known as Naxalites (Marxist-Leninist groups) became more active, particularly in West Bengal.

Gujarat and Bihar Movements

Student-led protests in the Congress-ruled states of Gujarat and Bihar had a major impact on national politics.

  • The Gujarat Movement (January 1974): Students began an agitation against rising prices for essential goods and corruption in the state government. The protest grew, with major opposition parties joining in, which led to the imposition of President's rule. Morarji Desai, a key rival of Indira Gandhi, went on an indefinite fast, demanding fresh elections. Under this pressure, assembly elections were held in June 1975, and the Congress party was defeated.

  • The Bihar Movement (March 1974): Students in Bihar protested rising prices, food scarcity, unemployment, and corruption. They invited Jayaprakash Narayan (JP), a respected leader who had retired from active politics, to lead their movement.

    • JP accepted on the condition that the movement remain non-violent and expand beyond Bihar.
    • He called for a total revolution (Sampoorna Kranti) in social, economic, and political spheres to establish what he called "true democracy."
    • The movement, supported by non-Congress parties like the Bharatiya Jana Sangh and the Socialist Party, organized strikes and protests, demanding the dismissal of the Bihar government.
Note
These movements were seen as anti-Congress and specifically as protests against Indira Gandhi's leadership. She believed the agitations were motivated by personal opposition to her. JP, supported by a coalition of opposition parties, was increasingly seen as an alternative to Indira Gandhi.

Railway Strike of 1974

In May 1974, the country faced a major crisis when railway employees went on a nationwide strike.

  • The strike was called by the National Coordination Committee for Railwaymen's Struggle, led by George Fernandes.
  • The workers' demands were related to bonuses and service conditions.
  • A railway strike threatened to bring the entire economy to a halt, as goods transportation depends heavily on trains.
  • The government declared the strike illegal, arrested many leaders, and refused to meet the demands. After twenty days, the strike was called off without a settlement.
Example
Imagine if all trains in the country stopped running for nearly three weeks. Food, coal for power plants, and other essential goods couldn't move from one city to another. This is the kind of paralysis the 1974 railway strike threatened, adding to the growing sense of crisis in the country.

Conflict with Judiciary

During this period, there was a growing tension between the government and the judiciary over the powers of the Parliament. Three key constitutional questions emerged:

  1. Can the Parliament take away Fundamental Rights? The Supreme Court said it cannot.
  2. Can the Parliament curtail the right to property through an amendment? The Court again said no.
  3. Can Parliament amend the Constitution to give Directive Principles priority over Fundamental Rights? The Supreme Court rejected this as well.

This conflict reached a peak with the famous Kesavananda Bharati Case in 1973. In this case, the Supreme Court ruled that while Parliament can amend the Constitution, it cannot change its "basic features."

The tension worsened when, in 1973, the government broke the long-standing tradition of appointing the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court as the Chief Justice. It superseded three senior judges and appointed Justice A. N. Ray as the Chief Justice.

  • This was highly controversial because the three judges who were passed over had all given rulings against the government's position.
  • This led to a debate about the need for a judiciary and bureaucracy that were "committed" to the vision of the government, raising fears about the judiciary's independence.