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NCERT Class 12 Political Science Chapter 13 Democratic Resurgence
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Democratic Resurgence
Chapter: 13
POLITICAL SCIENCE
PART – II: CHALLENGES OF NATION BUILDING
TEXTBOOK QUESTION ANSWER
Q. 1. State whether the following statements regarding the Emergency are correct or incorrect.
(a) It was declared in 1975 by Indira Gandhi.
Ans. incorrect.
(b) It led to the suspension of all fundamental rights.
Ans. correct.
(c) It was proclaimed due to the deteriorating economic conditions.
Ans. incorrect.
(d) Many opposition leaders were arrested during the Emergency.
Ans. correct.
(e) CPI supported the proclamation of the Emergency.
Ans. incorrect.
Q. 2. Find the odd one out in the context of proclamation of Emergency.
(a) The call for “Total Revolution’.
(b) The Railway Strike of 1974.
(c) The Naxalite Movement.
(d) The Allahabad High Court verdict.
(e) The findings of the Shah Commission Report.
Ans.(a), (b) and (c).
Q. 3. Match the following:
| (a) Total Revolution | (i) Indira Gandhi |
| (b) Garibi Hatao | (ii) Jayaprakash Narayan |
| (c) Students’ Protest | (iii) Bihar |
| (d) Railway Strike | (iv) George Fernandes |
Ans.
| (a) Total Revolution | (ii) Jayaprakash Narayan |
| (b) Garibi Hatao | (i) Indira Gandhi |
| (c) Students’ Protest | (iii) Bihar |
| (d) Railway Strike | (iv) George Fernandes |
Q. 4. What were the reasons which led to the mid-term elections in 1980?
Or
Explain the circumstances that led to the downfall of the Janata Government and mid-term Lok Sabha elections were held in January, 1980.
Ans. The Janata Party lacked direction, leadership and a common programme. The Janata Party government could not bring about a fundamental change in policies from those pursued by the Congress. The Janata Party split and the government which was led by Morarji Desai lost its majority in less than 18 months. Another government headed by Charan Singh was formed on the assurance of the support of the Congress Party. But the Congress Party later decided to withdraw its support with the result that the Charan Singh government could remain in power for just about four months. Fresh Lok Sabha elections were held in January 1980 in which the Janata Party suffered a comprehensive defeat, especially in north India where it had swept the polls in 1977. Congress Party led by Indira Gandhi nearly repeated its great victory in 1971. It won 353 seats and came back to power.
At the end we reach on this conclusion that Janata Party formulated its government first time but it did not take the complete term due to the internal succession of the party leaders and members.
Q. 5. The Shah Commission was appointed in 1977 by the Janata Party Government. Why was it appointed and what were its findings?
Ans. Shah Commission of Inquiry: In May 1977, the Janata Party Government appointed a Commission of inquiry headed by Justice J.C. Shah, retired Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India, to inquire into several aspects of allegations of abuse of authority, excesses and malpractices committed and action taken in the wake of the Emergency proclaimed on the 25th June, 1975. The Commission examined various kinds of evidence and called scores of witnesses to give testimonies. These included Indira Gandhi who appeared before the Commission.
Specially, the Commission was appointed for the purpose of presence of Indira Gandhi to ask some questions but he refused to reply of any question.
The Government of India accepted the findings, observations and recommendations contained in the two interim reports and third and final report of the Shah Commission. The reports were also tabled in the two Houses of Parliament.
Q. 6. What reasons did the Government give for declaring a National Emergency in 1975?
Ans. (i) The Government argued that in a democracy, the opposition parties must allow the elected ruling party to govern according to its policies. It felt that the frequent recourse to agitations, protests and collective actions are not good for democracy.
(ii) Supporters of Indira Gandhi held that in a democracy, opposition cannot continuously have extra parliamentary politics targeting the government because this leads to instability and distants the administration from its routine task of ensuring development.
(iii) Indira Gandhi wrote to Shah Commission that subversive forces were trying to obstruct the progressive programmes of the government and were attempting to dislodge her through extra-constitutional means.
Q. 7. The 1977 elections for the first time saw the opposition coming into power at the Centre. What would you consider as the reasons for this development?
Or
Why did the opposition succeed in coming into power at the centre for the first time in 1977? Explain any six reasons for this political change.
Or
“Government that are perceived to be anti-democratic are severely punished by the Voters”. Explain this statement with reference to emergency period 1975-1977.
Ans. The opposition succeeded in coming into power at the centre for the first time in 1977 due to the following six reasons:
(i) Economic crisis: The Congress came to power in 1971 by giving the popular slogan ‘garibi hatao’ (remove poverty). However, the economic condition did not improve. At the same time, the Bangladesh crisis piled up a heavy strain on our economy. After the Bangladesh War the USA stopped all aid to India. This affected our economy very badly and led to an all-round increase in prices of essential commodities. This inflationary trend caused much hardship to the countrymen. Industrial growth went down considerably and unemployment shot up, especially in the rural India. The failure of monsoons in 1972-73 caused a sharp decline in agricultural productivity. In this way, political unrest was simmering under the carpet.
(ii) Gujarat and Bihar Movements: Students’ protest in Gujarat and Bihar had far reaching impact on national politics. The major opposition parties joined the students’ protest. Rising prices, food scarcity, rampant corruption and unemployment worked as catalyst and percipitated the political gale. With the entry of Jayaprakash Narayan the students’ movement assumed a political character along with national appeal. Now, people from all walks of life joined the movement.
(iii) Conflict with Judiciary: During this period, the government and the ruling party had many differences with the judiciary. There were three constitutional issues:
(a) Can the Parliament abridge Fundamental Rights?
The Supreme Court said it cannot.
(b) Can the Parliament curtail the right to property by ammending the constitution?
The Supreme Court said it cannot.
(c) The Parliament amended the constitution maintaining that it can abridge Fundamental Rights for giving effect to Directive Principles.
The Supreme Court rejected this provision also.
The relationship between the government and the judiciary further worsened when the government set aside the seniority of three judges in 1973. However, the ruling of High Court declaring Indira Gandhi’s election invalid touched the climax of the confrontation.
(iv) Rapid Changes: The decision of the Allahabad High Court and a partial stay of the Supreme Court on the High Court order made the whole situation volatile. Now, the stage was set for a big political confrontation. The opposition political parties pressed for Indira Gandhi’s resignation under the leadership of Jayaprakash Narayan and organised a massive rally in Delhi’s Ramlila Ground on 25 June, 1975. JP declared a nationwide Satyagraha for Indira Gandhi’s resignation and simultaneously asked the army, the police and government employees not to obey “illegal government orders”.
(v) Declaration of Emergency: The then government considered these developments as a threat to democracy. The article 352 of the constitution was invoked. The government announced that a serious crisis had arisen which made the proclamation of a state of emergency necessary. Therefore, on the night of 25 June, 1975 the Prime Minister recommended the imposition of Emergency to President. The President issued the proclamation immediately. Albeit, the cabinet was informed about the proclamation of Emergency at a special meeting at 6 a.m. on 26 June, 1975.
(vi) Lok Sabha Elections 1977: After 18 months of Emergency, the government decided to hold elections in January 1977. The 1977 elections proved into a referendum on the experience of Emergency. The opposition contested the election on the slogan of ‘Save democracy’. Consequently, the people’s verdict was decisively against the Emergency. In this way, the opposition succeeded in coming into power at the centre for the first time in 1977.
Q. 8. Discuss the effects of Emergency on the following aspects of our polity.
(i) Effects on civil liberties for citizens.
Ans. It had negative effects on civil liberties for citizens. Negative.
(ii) Impact on relationship between the Executive and Judiciary.
Ans. were not good.
(iii) Functioning of Mass Media.
Ans. Harm for trustworthy or reliance.
(iv) Working of the Police and Bureaucracy.
Ans. Finish the fundamental rights of citizens.
Q. 9. In what way did the imposition of Emergency affect the party system in India? Elaborate your answer with examples.
Ans. The Janata Party made 1977 Lok Sabha elections into a referendum on the Emergency. Its campaign was focused on the non-democratic character of the rule and on the various excesses that took place during this period. In the backdrop of arrests of thousands of persons and the censorship of the Press, the public opinion was against the Congress. Jaya Prakash Narayan became the popular symbol of restoration of democracy. The formation of the Janta Party also ensured that non-Congress votes would not be divided. It was evident that the going was tough for the Congress. The 1977 elections turned into a referendum on the experience of the Emergency, at least in North India where the impact of the Emergency was felt most strongly. The opposition parties fought the election on the slogan of ‘save democracy’. The people’s verdict was decisively against the Emergency. The lesson was clear and has been reiterated in many state level elections thereafter-governments that are perceived to be anti-democratic are severely punished by the voters. In this sense the experience of 1975-77 ended up strengthening the foundations of democracy in India.
Q. 10. Read the passage and answer the questions below:
Indian democracy was never so close to a two-party system as it was during the 1977 elections. However, the next few years saw a complete change. However, the next few years saw a complete change. Soon after its defeat, the Indian National Congress split into two groups……The Janata Party also went through major convulsions……. David Butler, Ashok Lahiri and Prannoy Roy. (Partha Chatterjee)
Questions
(a) What made the party system in India look like a two-party system in 1977?
Ans. In 1977 the party system in India looked like two party system because almost all opposition parties came together on the eve of elections and formed a new party i.e., Janta Party. The new party accepted the leadership of Jayaprakash Narayan. The formation of the Janata Party ensured that Non-Congress Votes would not be divided. Thus, the contest was between two parties i.e., the Janata Party and the Congress. In the election the Congress could win only 154 seats. The Janata Party and its allies won 330 seats out of 542 seats in the Lok Sabha.
(b) Many more than two parties existed in 1977. Why then are the authors describing this period as close to a two-party system?
Ans. The authors are describing this period as close to a two-party system because most of the opposition parties had formed the Janata Party. Even same leaders of the Congress who were opposed to the Emergency also joined the new party. Jagjivan Ram, a congress leader, who had formed his own party-Congress for Democracy, later merged it with the Janta Party. Thus it looked like a two-party system has come into existence in 1977.
(c) What caused splits in Congress and the janata Parties?
Ans. (i) Congress: The main cause for the split in the Congress was that some leaders were opposed to the emergency, joined the Janta Party Leaders like Jagjivan Ram formed another party. The change in the nature of the Congress was also responsible for its split. The Congress party now identified with particular ideology and depended on the appeal of one leader like Indira Gandhi. It was no longer an umbrella party which accomodated leaders and workers of different ideological dispensations and view points.
(ii) The cause of the split in the Janta Party was that it lacked direction leadership and a common programme. It was the Emergency that could keep the opposition together for a while. The party was not cohesive. There was competition for the post of Prime Minister, Morarji Desai became the Prime Minister but the power struggle with in the party continued and ultimately led to split.
