GK 101 Lecture 5, Unit 1

India under Indira The Later Years

Background to the Unrest

Responded to insults by splitting the Congress
Her Congress given to sycophancy, gifts, Kashmiri
Pandit dominated inner circle

Willing to manipulate Judiciary

Ordinance for privy purse abolishment against SC
Promoted AN Ray as Chief Justice over 3 seniors

Garibi Hatao slogan won over poor people,

referred to as Indira Amma

Spreading Unrest against Indira

Student agitation in Gujarat against govt., CM
resigns, Cong beaten in 1975 elections
Bihar student union protests in 1974, with JP
Narayans blessing Total Revolution
Railway union strike in May 1974, govt crushes
it, throws families out of quarters
Govt faces criticism, no-confidence motion
Raj Narain, 1971 opponent, files case on fraud
and using govt machinery

Beginning of Emergency
Raj Narain wins case in Allahabad HC, Indira
convicted on minor charges
Major charge of buying voters not proved

Election declared null, banned for 6 years

SC upholds judgment, allowed to be PM
JP begins nationwide protest

President F A Ahmed forced to issue state of

emergency
Power to 3 biggest newspapers cut

Details of Emergency 1
Cabinet informed next morning, oppn jailed
Govt cites recent war, troubled economy,
inability to function because of protests
Sanjay Gandhi takes centerstage as extraconstitutional authority
President renews emergency 4 times
Elections postponed on whim, Gujarat & TN
govts dissolved on whim

AN Ray permits M K Stalins arrest without cause

Details of Emergency 2
President issues ordinance, permitting changes
in constitution
42nd Amendment
SC illegalized Parliament amending constitution

Mass imprisonment, indefinite postponement

of elections, yet Indira not culpable
Sanjay Gandhi 83 lakh vasectomies
REC Calicut student tortured, killed, disposed

Details of Emergency 3
Sikhs organize protest against Emergency
Refuse to talk with government
Attempts at peace fail

Movement fails to catch on at national level

because of mass imprisonment
40,000 sikhs arrested among 140,000 total
RSS plays key role in spreading information
Janata Party sweeps 1977 election (298-153)

Questions - 1
Who became the first non-Congress Indian PM?
Morarji Desai
Which lawyer, whose son later became famous in an
anti-corruption protest, won the Raj Narain case?
Shanti Bhushan
On the day of Emergency, what was the editorial in the
Indian Express?
It was BLANK
"D.E.M O'Cracy beloved husband of T.Ruth, father of
L.I.Bertie, brother of Faith, Hope and Justica expired on
26 June"

Indiras return to Power

Janata Party govt starts on revenge, arrests her
Many charges simply not provable
Tried for intended murder

Infighting among Janata Party starts, Desai

resigns in 1979, Charan Singh becomes PM
Congress withdraws support, Parliament
dissolved in late 1979
Jailing gave massive sympathy, works out 10point agenda for Muslims, landslide win in 1980

Origin of Punjab Crisis

Before independence, Sikhs want homeland
Akali Dal insists on 7 concessions, including
sole ownership of Chandigarh

Most Akali leaders want concessions, some want a

separate homeland Jagjit Singh Chauhan

Indira supports Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale to

reduce Akali Dal strength
Bhindranwale arrested for murder, protests
turn violent from October 1981 onwards

Punjab Crisis Deepens

Akali Dal, initial enemies of Bhindranwale, join
hands with him, Dharam Yudh Morcha formed
People join movement, thinking of only more
river water and return of Chandigarh
Govt hammers protestors, calls Akali Dal
separatist despite refusal, 100 killed
30,000 Sikhs arrested, govt makes Gyani Zail
Singh President to appease Sikhs
Fear of attack during 1982 Asian Games

Terrorism Spreads in Punjab

April 1983: DIG killed, body unclaimed by
police for hours for fear of Bhindranwale
October 1983: After many reports of bombladen trucks, 6 people die in bus explosion
Emergency rule in Punjab, lasts for 10 years

Akalis demand redefining Sikh religion in

constitution, govt sees it as secessionist
Akalis demand special marriage law

Attack on Golden Temple

Bhindranwale, Shabeg Singh place
ammunition and people inside golden temple
Govt unsuccessful in negotiation
Army sent, requests surrender, militants
refuse to release even innocent civilians
136 army people killed, 493 in all
Gen. Kuldip Brar faces attempts on life forever
1600 people unaccounted for

The Fallout and The End

Huge political embarrassment
Festival season, several innocent Sikhs living

Govt. accused of misinformation to justify

Govt. defends actions, saying Pakistan would
have used opportunity to recognize Khalistan
Morning 31st October, 1984: Sikh bodyguards
Satwant & Beant Singh kill Indira Gandhi
What might have been

Questions 2
How did Sanjay Gandhi die?
In an air crash
What was Rajiv Gandhis profession before
politics?
Pilot
Which year did Indira Gandhi get the Bharat
Ratna?
1971
What was the code name for the attack on the
Golden Temple?
Operation Blue Star

Assignment Topics
The White Revolution