Examine the controversies regarding to the declaration of Emergency in 1975 in India.

(i) Was the Emergency necessary? : The supporters of Emergency say that it was necessary for the regular functioning of the government because Jayaprakash Narayan had asked the police, army and the government employees not to obey government’s illegal and immoral orders. Critics point out that there was nothing wrong in the agitation of the opposition parties. It was peaceful and non-violent.

(ii) What happened during Emergency?: The government stated that it used the Emergency for the welfare activities for the people such as twenty point-programme. The critics however point-out that the Emergency was used for programmes like compulsory and forced sterilisation and relocation of the poor. Press censorship, torture and custodial deaths were order of the day.

(iii) Lessons of the Emergency : Critics point out that India ceased to be democratic during the Emergency but the fact remains that democratic functioning resumed within a short span of time. The general elections were held in March 1977. Indira Gandhi and her party was defeated but they accepted the defeat in a democratic way.