Emergency in India was declared on June 25,1975 by then PM Indira Gandhi. The first two took place during Indo-China war 1962 and Indo-Pak war 1971 .
WHY DID INDIRA GANDHI DECLARE EMERGENCY?
- In 1971 the war with Pakistan caused a deceleration in GDP.
2.Droughts, unemployment and oil criisi further troubled the economy
The then president of the All India Railwaymen's Federation organised an all India Railway Strike which led to massive arrests.
The govt. was increasingly trying to control judiciary. Indira Gandhi's election to Lok Sabha was declared void by the Allahabad court on grounds of electoral malpractice. But she rejected the calls for resignation.
Satyagrahas started around the country against her govt. She thought things were going out of her control. So she declared emergency to protect her position.
WHAT HAPPENED DURING THAT PERIOD?
Series of arrests took place, fundamental rights of people were suspended and any person who opposed govt. was put behind the bars.
Constitution that gave extraordinary powers to Indira gandhi was misused Article 352.
3.Censorship of media was done. Several censorship was imposed on local and national media.
4.Sanjay Gandhi wielded unconstitutional power and organised compulsory sterilization masked in the name of family planning.
- The police shot and killed people protesting against demolitions of their houses ordered by the government in 1976.
The whole country was converted into a prison during that period.