The Emergency in India was declared in 1975 by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. It was an attempt to save her government from the political turmoil that had engulfed the nation at the time. This period of emergency rule lasted for 21 months and saw the suspension of civil liberties, the introduction of censorship, and the suspension of the right to habeas corpus. The period also saw the introduction of a number of draconian laws, such as the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA).
Emergency Declared in India in 1975
The Emergency in India was declared on June 25, 1975, by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. It was declared in response to the political crisis that had engulfed the nation due to a number of factors, including the rising discontent of the people against her government and the increasing influence of opposition parties. The Emergency was declared under Article 352 of the Indian Constitution, which granted the President of India the power to declare a state of emergency in the country.
Reasons Behind the Declaration
The Emergency was declared in response to the political turmoil that had engulfed the nation. The discontent of the people against the government had been growing ever since the 1971 elections and had reached its peak in 1974, when Indira Gandhi lost a case in the Allahabad High Court for electoral malpractice. This led to her being disqualified from holding office and resulted in widespread protests and demonstrations. The opposition parties, who had been gaining in strength, were now demanding her resignation. In order to protect her government from the political instability, Indira Gandhi declared the Emergency.
The period of Emergency rule saw the suspension of civil liberties, the introduction of censorship, and the suspension of the right to habeas corpus. The period also saw the introduction of a number of draconian laws, such as the Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA).
The period of Emergency rule in India had a profound impact on the nation’s political and social landscape. It was a period of tremendous upheaval and saw the suspension of civil liberties and the introduction of a number of draconian laws. While the Emergency did help the government to maintain stability, it was widely criticized for its authoritarian nature and for the violation of civil liberties.