Emergency

Today being the 43rd anniversary of the Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi. On this day Congress generally keeps quiet, as they have nothing to say in defense of the ex PM. The people in the opposition parties always call this day as Black Day in Indian Democracy, like yesterday BJP leader and Finance Minister equated Indira Gandhi with Hitler.

For the younger generation , this happened 43 years back, they have only heard about Emergency but people who have experienced the life during Emergency, all will have some story to narrate about their experiences.

The Emergency was imposed by Indira Gandhi because, after Allahabad High Court unseated her as Parliamentarian in the case filed by her opponent Raj Narayan  on the charges of misuse of official position/machinery during campaigning in the General Election. After the judgement of HC there was wide spread agitations by all the opposition leaders and their demand was that Indira Gandhi should resign as PM, and in so many states the situation became very tense. Instead of resigning she imposed the Emergency and over night most of the opposition leaders were put behind bars.

There was gross misuse of human rights during Emergency, as no one could file a suit against the atrocities committed by authorities against political leaders and other citizens. As Congress had more than 2/3^rd majority in Parliament, PM could pass any bill, enact new  laws or bring ordinance, if Parliament is not in session, to suit them. All Elections to State Assembly were suspended and the term of Lok Sabha also got extended. Non Congress state govt in Tamil Nadu and Gujarat were dissolved and placed under President’s Rule.

There was censorship on media, and all the publishing house have to get the prior approval to print, even news papers were also facing deadlines to submit tomorrow’s news for approval before mid night, so that the news could be printed. I still remember one fine day Mumbai edition of Indian Express came with front page blank with caption CENSORED.

Sanjay Gandhi, the 2nd son of Indira Gandhi who was her lieutenant,  initiated a wide spread compulsory sterilization program to limit population growth. The officials were given quotas, so that target of area wise sterilization could be achieved. The officials in over enthusiasm  to achieve their targets, forced even unmarried men to go in for sterilization. These type of happenings happened in all over the nation. From 2.7 million sterilisation in previous year, record  8.3 million were sterilized in the country.

Leaders, Govt officials who were directly involved in running the administration of Emergency

1. Indra Gandhi- She was the main person who orchestrated the implementation and administration of Emergency.
2. President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed- He signed the decree allowing the Emergency under Prime Minister’s rule. Although initially when he signed the decree, there was no recommendation by cabinet.
3. Siddartha Shankar Ray- Then Chief minister of West Bengal, who supplied legal justifications to PM for Emergency.
4. Vidya Charan Shukla- Minister for Information & Broadcasting. He implemented a national Black Out of news coverage and criticism by country’s media like Press, films,magazines , TV etc, and their censorship.
5. Om Mehta-Minister of State for Home Affairs- He was instrumental in closing some courts, newspapers, and provided the list to authorities, for arresting the people.
6. Bansi Lal-Chief Minister of Haryana and later Defence Minister, he was closed confidant of PM and her son Sanjay Gandhi.
7. RK Dhawan- Additional Personal Secretary to Indira Gandhi- He passed directives from Indira and Sanjay Gandhi to senior officials and bureaucrats.
8. Navin Chawla- Civil Servant: Confidant of Sanjay Gandhi. He was involved in implicating people opposing Govt in false cases.
9. AN Ray- Chief Justice of India. He was instrumental in issuing decree permitting no cases can be filed against govt once the emergency is in force.
10. Sanjay Gandhi- He had the real extra constitutional authority during emergency, he was the main adviser of his mother, and she used to listen to him. He was responsible for several significant happenings during the period of Emergency. The most famous being razing of Slums in Delhi, Forced Sterilisation, Intimidation and imprisonment of political opponents.

As nine High Court gave the ruling that even after arrest in emergency a detained person can go in for appeal. Then  in Supreme Court , where  Indira Gandhi had earlier appointed AN Ray, her nominee as Chief Justice, who over ruled the decisions of all the High Courts.

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh( RSS)- which was considered very close  to Janasangh ( now known as BJP), was also banned during Emergency and its top leaders were jailed. RSS members kept on defying ban and thousands used to participate in Satyagrah (peaceful protest) against Emergency and curtailment of fundamental rights. The volunteers of RSS formed underground movements for bringing back democracy.

The second open opposition to the Emergency was shown by Sikh Groups viz. Shriomani Akali Dal( a regional political party of Punjab) and Sikh Religious group Shriomani Gutdwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC).

According to the estimate published in foreign media about 140,000 persons were arrested without trial during 20 months of Emergency, and out of which approx 40,000 were Sikhs from Punjab.

People living in Bombay during onset of Emergency might recall a advertisement published in “The Times of India”, which is as follows

“D.E.M O’Cracy, beloved husband of T Ruth, loving father of L.I.Bertie, brother of Faith, Hope and Justice, expired on June 26.”

Which literally meant “ Democracy, beloved husband of Truth, loving father of Liberty, brother of Faith, Hope and Justice expired on June 26^th 1975.”

I think there can not be any better and apter  definition and description of   Emergency.

What you say my friends.

Waiting for your  views/comments/feed backs.