Analyse the factors leading to the declaration of internal emergency in India on June 25, 1975.

(i) Enocomic factors : In the elections of 1971, the Congress had given the slogan of ‘garibi hatao’ (remove poverty) but the promise had not been implemented. The economic condition of the people did not improve much after 1971-72. As a result of poor economic conditions, non-Congress opposition parties had started protests in different parts of the country.

(ii) Gujarat and Bihar movements : In 1974 the students in Gujarat and Bihar which were Congress ruled states started agitation against rising prices and corruption in high places. The opposition parties too joined these protests. As a result of these agitation, elections were held in Gujarat, where Congress was defeated. In Bihar, the movement was guided by Jayaprakash Narayan who tried to spread it to other parts of the country.

(iii) Conflict with judiciary : In the meantime the relations between the executive and the judiciary strained due to appointment of Justice A.N. Ray as Chief Justice of India, ignoring three other senior judges. On 12 June 1975, Allahabad High Court declared the election of Indira Gandhi invalid. The above events set a stage for a big political confrontation which came on 25 June 1975 when at Ramlila ground. New Dehli, Jayaprakash Narayan announced a nationwide satyagraha against Indira Gandhi. The same night she declared internal Emergency.