question_answer

Examine any six reasons for the imposition of emergency in India in 1975.

Or

Examine the major issues which led to the split of Congress Party in 1969.

Answer:

(i) From the early 1970s onwards, wide-spread discontent shook India: large sections of the population came out in demonstrations against rising prices, fall in the supply of essential commodities, unemployment, and more importantly, corruption in government administration.

(ii) These protests reached a crescendo in two states - Gujarat and Bihar - in 1974, with students leading the agitations and giving them an organized shape. The Gujarat state government ruled by Indira Gandhi?s Congress Party was forced to resign that year. In fresh elections to the Gujarat legislature in early June, 1975.

(iii) The Congress was trounced and the opposition parties formed the new government in that state. Indira realized that she was losing her grip, and was threatened by a political crisis.

(iv) The threat became imminent when on June 12, 1975 the Allahabad High Court of the state of Uttar Pradesh (from where Indira Gandhi won in the parliamentary election in 1971), declared her election invalid on two corruption charges in the conduct of her poll campaign at that time.

(v) She was accused of violating the Indian law by first, using an officer of her government to make campaign arrangements, and secondly, by using other state officers to put up speaker?s stands in her constituency and supply electricity to her amplifying equipment.

(vi) This political instability was responsible for the emergency.

Or

The major issue which led to the split of the Congress party in 1969 was the presidential elections held in 1969. Although the rivalry between Indira Gandhi and the syndicate in the Congress party was going on for some time, yet it came our into tile open at me time of the Presidential election. Due to President Zakir Hussain?s death, the office of the President fell vacant. Despite Mrs. Gandhi reservations the syndicate managed to nominate her longtime opponent N. Sanjeeva Reddy as the official congress candidate. On the other hand Indira Gandhi encouraged the then vice President VV Giri to file his nomination as an independent.

The then Congress President S. Nijalingappa issued a whip asking all the Congress MPs and MLAs to vote for Reddy. Supporters of Indira Gandhi requisitioned a special meeting of All India Congress Committee, but this was refused. After Prime Minister Indira Gandhi called for a "conscience vote" which meant MPs and MLAs were free to vote the way wanted. The election resulted in the victory of VV Giri and the defeat of the official candidate Reddy.

The defeat of N. Sanjeeva Reddy formalized the split in the Congress. The Congress President expelled the Prime Minister Indira Gandhi from the party. Thus the Congress Party was split into Congress (R) and Congress (0).