The story of emergency declared in India starts in the early 1970s when Indira Gandhi, the Prime Minister of India, was facing growing opposition and criticism from various political factions and social groups. In 1975, the Allahabad High Court found Indira Gandhi guilty of electoral malpractices and declared her election to the parliament as void.
The verdict triggered widespread protests and calls for her resignation, and the opposition parties demanded fresh elections. However, Indira Gandhi refused to step down and instead appealed to the Supreme Court. In the meantime, the protests and strikes intensified, and the country was on the brink of a political and social crisis.
On June 25, 1975, Indira Gandhi declared a state of emergency in India under Article 352 of the Constitution, citing "internal disturbance" as the reason. She argued that the emergency was necessary to maintain law and order and to protect the country's unity and integrity.
During the emergency period, civil liberties and fundamental rights were suspended, and the government censored the press, banned political meetings and rallies, and arrested thousands of opposition leaders and activists. The government also launched a forced sterilization campaign to control the population growth, which led to widespread human rights violations.
The emergency was lifted in March 1977, after Indira Gandhi's government lost the general elections to the Janata Party, which campaigned against the emergency and promised to restore civil liberties and democratic rights.
The emergency period is often seen as a dark chapter in India's democratic history, marked by widespread human rights violations, suppression of civil liberties, and authoritarianism. The emergency led to a strengthening of the democratic institutions in India, and the people of India became more vigilant of their rights and the need to protect democracy.
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