Consider the following statements: The National Emergency was imposed ...
- A state of National emergency can be proclaimed by the President of India, when he/she perceives grave threats to the nation from internal and external sources. The first instance was between October 1962 to January 1968 during the India-China war, when "the security of India" was declared as being "threatened by external aggression". The second instance was between December 1971 to March 1977, which was originally proclaimed during the Indo-Pakistan war. It was later extended along with the third proclamation between June 1975 to March 1977 under controversial circumstances of political instability under Indira Gandhi's prime ministership. The national emergency was proclaimed for the first time during the Prime ministership of Jawaharlal Nehru. Hence statement 1 is not correct.
- The students’ movement of Bihar in 1974 assumed a political character when Jayaprakash Narayan assumed leadership. People from all walks of life entered the movement. Jayaprakash Narayan demanded the dismissal of the Congress government in Bihar and gave a call for total revolution in the social, economic and political spheres in order to establish, what he considered to be true democracy.
- The opposition political parties led by Jayaprakash Narayan pressed for Indira Gandhi’s resignation and organised a massive demonstration in Delhi’s Ramlila grounds in June 1975. Jayaprakash announced a nationwide satyagraha for her resignation and asked the army, the police and government employees not to obey “illegal and immoral orders”. The political mood of the country had turned against the Congress, more than ever before. The response of the government was to declare a state of emergency. On 25 June 1975, the government declared that there was a threat of internal disturbances and therefore, it invoked Article 352 of the Constitution. Hence statement 2 is not correct.
- To remove ambiguities regarding emergency provisions in the Constitution, the 44th Constitutional Amendment Act provides that National Emergency can be proclaimed only on the grounds of external aggression, war and armed rebellion and it is necessary that the advice to the President to proclaim Emergency must be given in writing by the Union cabinet.
Consider the following statements: The National Emergency was imposed ...
Understanding the National Emergency in India
The question revolves around two statements regarding the imposition of National Emergency in India. Let's evaluate each statement.
Statement 1: The National Emergency was imposed for the first time during the Prime Ministership of Lal Bahadur Shastri.
- This statement is incorrect.
- The first National Emergency in India was declared on October 26, 1962, during Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's tenure, primarily due to the Sino-Indian War. Lal Bahadur Shastri was Prime Minister from 1964 to 1966, and while he did face significant challenges, the first National Emergency was not during his time.
Statement 2: The National Emergency in 1975 was declared based on the threat of armed rebellion.
- This statement is also incorrect.
- The National Emergency declared on June 25, 1975, was primarily justified by then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on the grounds of internal disturbances, not an armed rebellion. It was largely a response to political unrest and opposition to her government, particularly after a court ruling that invalidated her election.
Conclusion
- Since both statements are incorrect, the correct answer is option D: Neither 1 nor 2.
This illustrates the importance of historical context and understanding the specific reasons behind significant political decisions in India.
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