INDIRA GANDHI WAS A LEADER WHO MANY PEOPLE RESENTED: UDAY PRAKASH SINGH

INDIRA GANDHI WAS A LEADER WHO MANY PEOPLE RESENTED: UDAY PRAKASH SINGH

20-NOV-ENG 29

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA------------------------Banks and coal mines were nationalized, angering the country's capitalist class. Indira abolished the subsistence allowance of kings called "privy purses," angering various princely states. She also angered foreign companies by introducing foreign exchange bills. After 1971, America was already deeply displeased with her. And rightfully so, Indira Gandhi is the only Prime Minister of India who, while telling the superpower America, "Who are you?", dismembered Pakistan and gave birth to a new nation.

By 1975, the country had been plunged into chaos in the name of opposition to Indira. Protests and protests were taking place everywhere, work was halted, and railway tracks were being uprooted. What's more, even the then Railway Minister, Lalit Narayan, was killed in a bomb blast.

On June 12th, 1975, the Allahabad High Court revoked Indira's membership and ordered her to step down as Prime Minister. The reason: a government official was caught campaigning for Indira Gandhi two weeks before her retirement. It was a case of misuse of government machinery. Back then, the court's authority was different; even the Prime Minister of the country could be summoned to court. Today, votes are bought with bribes of ten thousand rupees before elections, and no one dares to object.

However, those who cite this decision and curse Indira Gandhi for the Emergency should know that 12 days later, on June 24th, the Supreme Court stayed the decision, allowing her to remain as Prime Minister. This was a court decision. Shouldn't it be respected?

Despite the Supreme Court's decision, JP Narayan was shouting slogans like "Living nations don't wait for five years."

I've already described the chaotic situation in the country. Things came to a head when, disappointed with the Supreme Court's decision, JP called for rebellion from the country's army and police. This was blatant treason, with the intention of assassinating Indira.

Result - The country witnessed the Emergency.

Many things happened during the Emergency that shouldn't have happened. If someone wants to blame Indira for it, there's no objection. But you should know that the reason for the Emergency wasn't to protect Indira's membership, but to protect the country's democratic system from anarchy and coup culture.

If Indira had wanted to remain a dictator, why would she have ended the Emergency after 21 months? Indira herself lifted the Emergency, called elections, lost the election, went to jail, faced numerous investigations and corruption charges.

Result? Just two years later, she returned to the country's Prime Minister with a landslide majority.

Whether you agree with Indira or not, it doesn't change the fact that if any leader in this country had the courage to take bold and tough decisions, it was Indira.

Who knew that this innocent-looking girl would one day be recorded in Indian history as the "Iron Lady of India."