CBSE Class 12 Political Science NCERT Solutions: Chapter 6 - The Crisis of Democratic Order

Let's evaluate each statement regarding the Emergency proclaimed in India:

1. Correct. The Emergency was declared on June 25, 1975, by President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed on the advice of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
2. Correct. A significant consequence of the Emergency was the suspension of fundamental rights, which severely limited civil liberties and the ability to challenge government actions in court.
3. Incorrect. While economic issues existed, the primary stated reasons for the Emergency were the threat of internal disturbances and the political situation arising from the Allahabad High Court's verdict against Indira Gandhi's election.
4. Correct. Numerous opposition leaders, political activists, and critics of the government were arrested and detained under preventive detention laws during the Emergency.
5. Correct. The Communist Party of India (CPI) initially supported the proclamation of the Emergency, viewing it as a necessary measure to counter 'right-wing' forces and maintain stability.

The odd one out is (c) The Naxalite Movement.

Reasoning:

• The call for 'Total Revolution' by Jayaprakash Narayan, the Railway Strike of 1974 led by George Fernandes, and the Allahabad High Court verdict against Indira Gandhi were all significant political events and factors that contributed to the political climate leading up to the Emergency.
• The findings of the Shah Commission, although occurring after the Emergency, were directly related to investigating its excesses.
• The Naxalite Movement, while a significant socio-political phenomenon, was a distinct issue that predated and was not directly a cause or immediate context for the proclamation of the 1975 Emergency in the same way as the other options. It was more of a separate law and order challenge.

Here is the correct matching of the items:

• (a) Total Revolution is associated with (ii) Jayaprakash Narayan. JP was the proponent of the 'Total Revolution' movement.
• (b) Garibi Hatao (Remove Poverty) was the famous slogan and policy initiative of (i) Indira Gandhi.
• (c) Students' Protest Movement, particularly in Bihar, was a significant part of the broader movement led by Jayaprakash Narayan, often referred to as the (iii) Bihar Protest Movement in this context.
• (d) Railway Strike of 1974 was a major event organized and led by (iv) George Fernandes.

Therefore, the correct match is: (a)-(ii), (b)-(i), (c)-(iii), (d)-(iv).

Several factors contributed to the necessity of mid-term elections in 1980, leading to the defeat of the Janata Party and the return of Indira Gandhi's Congress party to power:

1. Lack of Direction and Common Programme: The Janata Party, formed by a coalition of diverse political groups, suffered from internal rifts and a lack of a unified vision or common programme to effectively govern the country.
2. Failure to Bring Policy Changes: The Janata Party government did not manage to implement fundamental policy changes that significantly differed from those pursued by the previous Congress governments, leading to public disappointment.
3. Government Instability and Splits: The Janata Party government, led by Morarji Desai, faced numerous splits and internal conflicts. It lost its majority in Parliament within 18 months of coming to power, demonstrating its instability.
4. Charan Singh's Government Collapse: Following the fall of the Morarji Desai government, a new government was formed under Charan Singh, initially with the support of the Congress party. However, the Congress party soon withdrew its support, causing the Charan Singh government to collapse within four months, necessitating fresh elections.

These cumulative reasons of instability, internal conflicts, and policy paralysis within the Janata coalition led to the mid-term elections of 1980, where the Congress party secured a decisive victory.

The Shah Commission was established in May 1977 by the Janata Party government, which had come to power after the Emergency. It was headed by J.C. Shah, a retired Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India. The commission was appointed to investigate and inquire into several critical matters related to the period of the Emergency proclaimed on June 25, 1975.

Purpose of Appointment:

• To examine allegations of abuse of authority, excesses, and malpractices committed during the Emergency.
• To scrutinize actions taken in the name of the Emergency.

The commission gathered evidence and testimonies, and even summoned Indira Gandhi to appear before it. However, she reportedly refused to answer any questions.

Findings of the Shah Commission:

The commission's report detailed numerous irregularities and abuses, including:

• Excesses Committed: It found substantial evidence of 'excesses' being committed by authorities during the Emergency period.
• Mass Arrests: Approximately one lakh eleven thousand people were arrested under preventive detention laws during the Emergency.
• Press Censorship: Press censorship was imposed without proper legal sanctions, severely restricting media freedom.
• Abuse of Power: The commission cited specific instances, such as the verbal orders given to the general manager of the Delhi Power Supply Corporation to cut electricity to newspaper presses at 2 a.m. on June 26, 1975, illustrating the arbitrary use of power.

These findings highlighted the authoritarian nature and the human rights violations that occurred during the Emergency.

The government, led by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, declared a National Emergency on June 25, 1975. The official justification provided for this proclamation was the threat of 'internal disturbances'. This declaration was made in response to a petition filed by Raj Narain seeking to declare Indira Gandhi's election to the Lok Sabha from Rae Bareli in 1971 invalid.

Key points regarding the government's stated reasons and context:

• Invocation of Article 352: The government invoked Article 352 of the Constitution, which allows the President to proclaim an Emergency on the grounds of a threat to the security of India, either by war, external aggression, or internal disturbance. The government cited 'internal disturbances' as the reason.
• Perceived Grave Crisis: The government argued that a grave crisis had arisen, necessitating the imposition of emergency measures to restore law and order, improve efficiency in administration, and implement pro-poor welfare programmes.
• Political Context: While 'internal disturbances' was the official reason, the political context was crucial. The Allahabad High Court had, on June 12, 1975, found Indira Gandhi guilty of electoral malpractices and unseated her from Parliament. This verdict, coupled with widespread opposition protests and the call for 'Total Revolution', created significant political turmoil. The government viewed these developments as a threat to its stability and the functioning of the state.

President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed proclaimed the Emergency based on this advice, marking one of the most controversial episodes in Indian political history.

The 1977 general elections were a watershed moment in Indian democracy, as they resulted in the defeat of the ruling Congress party for the first time since independence and brought the opposition parties, united under the Janata Party, into power at the Centre. Several key factors contributed to this historic outcome:

1. Public Resentment Against the Emergency: The most significant factor was the widespread public anger and resentment against the imposition of the Emergency (1975-1977). The suspension of fundamental rights, press censorship, and arbitrary arrests alienated a large section of the population.
2. 'Save Democracy' Slogan: The opposition parties effectively used the slogan 'Save Democracy' during their campaign, resonating with the public's desire to restore democratic norms and civil liberties.
3. Highlighting Non-Democratic Rule and Excesses: The opposition campaigned vigorously against the non-democratic character of the Emergency rule, highlighting the various excesses, including preventive detention and suppression of dissent, which swayed public opinion against the Congress.
4. Unity of Opposition: For the first time, major opposition parties, including the Congress (O), Jan Sangh, socialist parties, and the BLD, came together to form the Janata Party. This unity prevented the division of anti-Congress votes, consolidating opposition support.
5. Loss of Congress Credibility: The perceived authoritarian tendencies and the excesses committed during the Emergency severely damaged the credibility and image of the Congress party and Indira Gandhi.

These factors combined to create a political environment where voters opted for change, leading to the unprecedented victory of the Janata Party.