The most important functionary that enables the successful operation of democracy – the press was crippled by censoring every single item to be published.

Indira Gandhi wanted to hold the grip on the people by using whatever means possible and she chose the most effective but temporary tool – fear. Beginning with the Raj Narain’s petition against Indira Gandhi, Kuldip recounted how she started getting things under her control, how she tried to bribe the judge and when she failed how she with the help of his son, Sanjay Gandhi, ran the whole Government from a single office. Kuldip Nayar, an esteemed journalist and a former Member of Parliament (Upper house – Rajya Sabha), narrated the arduous events of the period. It was declared by Mrs Indira Gandhi who made the entire legislature and executive, two pillars of the Indian government, act to her will and there by becoming a psuedo-tyrant of the nation. The darkest period of democracy in India is inarguably during the Internal Emergency in India between 1975-77. Such was, is, and will always be the power of freedom loving common man :) They threw Congress, flag bearer of Indian Independence Struggle out of the office and with them the Gandhi-Nehru dynasty too, for the first time in the history of Independent India. The Congress couldn't even open their tally in 4 states and 1 Union Territory. Despite all this, the people ousted Indira Gandhi out of power ruthlessly. The press censorship hadn't been lifted yet. The fundamental rights weren't even restored to the citizens. The Opposition party leaders and political activists who were detained for 19 months were released barely 2 months before the elections which were announced by an overconfident Indira Gandhi. To allow Prime Minister to use government machinery and employees for election practices, obtained the assent from the State Assemblies, Upper and Lower Houses, and The President in just over 5 days and made the Supreme Court declare the High Court ruling null and void. Indira Gandhi appealed in Supreme Court, made constitutional amendments,ġ.to recognize the resignation date as the date on which it was printed in gazette andĢ. The court found fault with her 4 years later and declared her victory illegal and barred her from Indian Politics for 6 years.Īnd then Mrs. And she won by more than one hundred thousand majority than her nearest rival, Raj Narain. Indira Gandhi) used the services of an IAS for 18 days before his resignation was accepted and also was helped by a State Government's officials who arranged rostrums, electricity and PA systems for her election campaign in her constituency.

Emergency Retold by Kuldip Nayar