Indira Gandhi Era

1971 War

Challenge of Bangladesh

Immediately after 1971 elections, Politico-Military Crisis broke out in East Pakistan. Reasons were

• Difference between Punjabi speaking West Pakistan and Bengali Speaking East Pakistan
• Domination of West Pakistan elite in army, bureaucracy and polity resulted into feeling of relative deprivation
• In the absence of political democracy, there was no mechanism to remedy the situation. Hence, the movement was started for autonomy in East Pakistan. As a result, elections were announced and Awami League under Sheikh Mujibur Rehman won with absolute majority.

However, they were refused to form government and Civil Disobedience Movement was launched in East Pakistan. To contain the movement , Operation Searchlight was launched (military crackdown and political murders) . As a result, leaders of Awami League escaped to Eastern India and Civil Liberation Army known as Mukti Vahini was formed

India’s reaction

Although there was a strong wave of sympathy , but the leadership restrained itself from any intervension because

• They didn’t want to strengthen the Pakistan propaganda that the entire movement in East Pakistan for autonomy is an Indian conspiracy
• The leadership wanted to take some time so as to attack during winters making it impossible for China to intervene
• To ensure that Mukti Vahini has gained enough strength to counter Pakistani Forces
• To educate international opinion over the cause of Bangladesh and position of India wrt Refugee crisis and consequent burden on our limited resources

Hence our leadership followed the following approach

• To give place to the Bangladesh Government in exile
• Military training to Mukti Vahini
• Food , clothing and shelter to refugees
• To secure itself from US -China intervension, India signed Indo-Soviet Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation

=> Finally on 3rd Dec 1971, official war was declared and on 16th Dec Pakistan surrendered

It was followed by Shimla Declaration 1972

• India agreed to return the territories occupied except some strategic locations in Kashmir
• Pakistan agreed to respect Line of Control in Kashmir
• Both the countries agreed to settle disputes through Bilateral negotiations without mediation of Third party
• India agreed to return Prisoners of War provided Pakistan recognise Bangladesh

=> August 1973, Pakistan recognised Bangladesh .

Question: It has been argued that unlike the wars of 1962 and 1971, the war in 1965 was indecisive and brought neither victory nor peace to India. Critically analyse the statement and also highlight how the experience of 1965 was helpful in war of 1971.

Towards Emergency

Issues during 1973-77

These crisis created situation for Gujarat unrest where students protested and agitated on the issue of price rise of essential commodities . As a result , the Government was forced to suspend the assembly and announce fresh elections. Based on the success of Gujarat unrest, similar agitation was started by the students in Bihar. However, the Bihar unrest was characterised by two new features ie

• Leadership was taken over by JP Narayan who gave a call for total revolution ie struggle against the system which has compelled everyone to go corrupt and demanding the government to resign and setup people’s parallel government all over the state
• Firm refusal of Indira Gandhi to dissolve the Assembly

JP Movement

• Objective :
• • • • To raise voice against the corruption
      • To defend democracy against the authoritative practices of leadership

• Action repertoires
• • • • Protest + Band + Gherao
      • It was non-violent movement with purpose of crippling the government and forcing it to resign (Insurrection without Revolution)

• Social Constituency
• • • • Students movement led by Jaiprakash Narayan based on the ideology of total revolution
      • It failed to establish a connect with rural and urban poor

However , the movement lost vigour due to loss of student support. But was  revived due to Allahabad High Court’s Raj Narayan Judgement which declared the  election of Indira Gandhi as illegal due to corrupt practices

In the second phase of JP Movement , the objective was Anti-Congressism ie to topple Indira Gandhi’s Government at any cost. In later phases , it came to be governed by RSS & Jana Sangh which completely changed the political character of the movement. Moreover, the agitational methods adopted were also undemocratic. Finally, it lost it’s organisational structure and reduced to mere amalgamation of all opposition parties with incompatible ideologies

On 25th June 1975, JP Narayan conducted a rally in Delhi where he requested all the police personnels , army as well as Bureaucracy  to not to adhere to the diktats of Indira Gandhi as she has lost legitimacy to rule this nation. They also declared that from 29th June, they would start Civil Disobedience Movement throughout the nation  with an intension to topple the government.

=> On 26th June 1975, Indira Gandhi imposed emergency

Question : Critically analyse to what extent JP Movement was successful in meeting it’s objectives

Question : Discuss the factors which led to imposition of emergency in 1975. Why it is considered a dark period in India’s democracy ? Briefly discuss the initial response to the emergency.

Emergency

• India’s stability, security , integrity and democracy was in danger due to disruptive character of JP Movemen
• The leadership accused opposition of inciting armed forces and police to rebel
• There was a need to implement rapid economic programs in the interest of poor
• The leadership feared against the intervension from the external forces with the aim to weaken and destabilise India

=> Hence, Emergency was declared on 26th June 1975

Why it was a dark period in Indian Democracy

• Suspension of federal provisions of Constitutions, Fundamental Rights, imposition of strict censorship on press , arrest of main leaders under MISA , internal democracy within the congress was crippled
• Youth congress led by Sanjay Gandhi emerged as alternate centre of power .
• Religious and cultural organisation like R.S.S., Jamait-E-Islami were banned on the apprehension of disturbance to social and communal harmony
• Torture and custodial deaths occurred during Emergency, arbitrary relocation of poor people, imposition of compulsory sterilisation to control population.
• The power of Judicial Review was undermined with the passage of 42nd Amendment Act

Public Response to emergency

There was a delayed reaction among the masses . In the initial phase of emergency it was popularly accepted because

• Return of normal life after so many disruptions was appreciated
• Action against Anti-Social Elements was applauded
• Efficiency in the administration was restored
• There was significant improvement in the economic situation and the prices of essential commodities reduced
• Most importantly , the 20 Point Program announced by Indira Gandhi for the upliftment of poor

However , towards the later stages , people became disillusioned because

• Economic growth was not sustained
• Congress failed to create new agencies of social change
• Abuse of power by bureaucracy and police
• No channel for redressal of grievances
• Fear of Authoritarianism began to be generated
• Forced sterlisation campaign led to large scale disenchantment

=> Hence, the surprised elections of 1977 were announced