Important Questions: The Crisis of Democratic Order | Political Science Class 12 - Humanities/Arts PDF Download

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Q1: Highlight any two constitutional issues between the parliament and the judiciary during the 1970s.?
Ans:

• Can the parliament abridge fundamental rights?
• Cant the parliament curtail the right to property by making an amendment.

Q2: Why were the Lok Sabha elections, 1977 fought by the opposition on the slogan? ‘Save Democracy’.
Ans: Lok Sabha elections, 1977 fought by the opposition on the slogan ‘Save Democracy’ because from 1975 to 1977 ruling government instead of democracy imposed emergency, which caused multi atrocities in every sphere.

Q3: What was the main demand of the railwaymen during the strike?
Ans: Bonus and improved conditions of service was the main demand of the railwaymen during the strike.

Q4: Mention the main reason for the defeat of The Congress Party in the elections of 1977.
Ans: The main reason for the defeat of the Congress Party in the elections of 1977 was an internal emergency declared by the government

Q5: Who led the railway strike of 1974? What was its main demand?
Ans: George Fernandes led the railway strike in 1974. Bonus and improved condition of service were the main demands of the railway employees.

Q6: Name the political party which came to power at the center in 1977.
Ans: Janata Party.

Q7: Why did the magazines like ‘Seminar’ and ‘Mainstream’ choose to close down after the declaration of emergency in 1975?
Ans: Seminar and Mainstream chose to close down because these magazines did not accept the censorship imposed on print media.

Q8: Why was the Congress party defeated during the elections of 1977?
Ans: The Congress Party was defeated in 1977 due to the imposition of emergency and practicing of unconstitutional activities by its leaders.

Q9: Mention the main reason for the defeat of Congress party in the elections 1977.
Ans: The opposition party adopted the slogan ‘Save democracy’ against the imposition of emergency.

Q10: In which year fifth general elections to Lok Sabha held?
Ans:  1971.

Q11: Name the political party which came to power at centre in 1977.
Ans: Janata Party

Q12:  In January 1974, Students of Gujarat started an agitation against which two major problems?
Ans: 

• Rising prices of food grains, cooking oil and other essential commodities.
• Corruption in high places.

Q13: Who was Charu Majumdar?
Ans: Charu Majumdar was a communist revolutionary and the leader of Naxalbari uprising. He founded the Communist Party of India (Marxist Leninist).

Q14: Name the president who proclaimed emergency in 1975 in India.
Ans: President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmad at midnight on 25 June 1975.

Q15: Who introduced Twenty Point Programme and Why?
Ans: Congress government led by Indira Gandhi introduced ‘Twenty Point Programme’ to maintain law and order and to restored efficiency including land reforms, eradication of bonded labour, land redistribution, workers participation in management etc.

Q16: Who became the symbol of restoration of democracy?
Ans: Jayaprakash Narayan, leader of Janata Party.

Q17: Mention the Historic decision given by the court in famous Kesavananda Bharati Case.
Ans: That there are some basic features of constitution not to be amended by parliament at all. It led to a crisis between the government and judiciary.

Q18: What was the controversy regarding the appointment of the chief justice A.N. Ray in 1973?
Ans:  It became political controversial because in this appointment the government set aside the seniority of three judges who had given ruling against the stand of government.

Q19: Why did Congress win in Southern states?
Ans: 

• The impact of emergency was not felt equally in all the states.
• The forced relocation and dis-placements, the forced sterilisations were mostly concentrated in the northern states.

Q20: What do you mean by Preventive Detention?
Ans: In Preventive Detention Act, people are arrested and detained on the apprehension to commit any offence in future and government made large scale arrests under this during emergency.

Q21: What factors led to crisis of democratic order in Indian Politics?
Ans: 

• Emergence of Indira Gandhi with a lot of popularity.
• Party competitions had been created.
• Relation between the government and judiciary had become tense.

Q22: Mention the factors which led Naxalite movement in backward states.
Ans: 

• Forced labour
• Exploitation by moneylenders
• Exploitation of resources by outsiders.

Q23: What was Shah Commission of inquiry?
How did government react to it? “
Ans: The Shah commission was appointed in May 1977 by Janata Party government headed by S.C. Shah, retired chief justice of Supreme Court of India to look into the matter of:

• Allegations of abuse of authority.
• Excesses and malpractices.
• Actions taken in the name of emergency proclaimed on 25 June 1975.

The government appeared before commission against various evidences but she refused to answer any question.

Q24: Describe any two outcomes of Naxalite Movement.
Ans: The ‘Naxalites’ were the Marxist and Leninist Agricultural workers of Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar and adjoining areas who organised massive agitations against economic injustice and inequality and demanded redistribution of land to cultivators.

Q25: Mention circumstances to be characterised for imposition of emergency?
Ans: 

• Emergence of Indira Gandhi.
• Power Politics became personalised and governmental authority was converted into personalization.
• Bitter party competition.
• Tense relations between the government and judiciary.

Q26: Who organised the first nationwide Satyagraha and Why?
Ans: It was organised by Jayaprakash Narayan for Indira Gandhi’s resignation, he appealed to people not to obey illegal and immoral orders by a massive demonstration on 25 June 1975. All these changed the political mood of the country against Congress.

Short Answer Type Questions

Q27: Examine the conditions responsible for the growth of the Naxalite movement in India. Suggest ways and means crash it.
Ans: The Naxalite movement has been the most important peasant movement in the post-independence movement. A peasant uprising took place in 1967 in the Naxalbari police station area of Darjeeling hills district in West Bengal. This movement was started under the local leadership of the Marxist Party. Naxalite does not believe in democracy. They believe in violence and guerrilla war in order to achieve their aims. Naxalites used force to snatch land from the big landlord and distributed to the poor and landless workers. West Bengal government used strong measures to crush the movement. In 1972, Charu, Majumdar died in police custody which created a vacuum in the movement as there was no competent leader to replace him.

Q28: Explain any two lessons learnt from the emergency imposed in 1975.
Ans: Following two lessons were learnt from the emergency :

• Bureaucracy and Judiciary should be independent. Bureaucracy should be independent and impartial. It should not be committed to the ideology and principles of the ruling party. Rather bureaucracy should be committed to the Constitution. Judiciary should not be subordinated to the executive. Judiciary should be independent and it should protect the rights and liberties of the citizens.
• The government should run the administration according to the provisions of the constitution. Judiciary is the guardian of the constitution.

Q29: Analyse any four factors responsible for the downfall of the Janata Government in 1979.
Ans: The following are the factors responsible for the downfall of the Janata Government in 1979.

• Janta-Party lacked direction, leadership, and a common program.
• The janta-Party government could not bring about a fundamental change in policies from those pursued by Congress.
• In the Janata-Party government, different political parties lacked co-operation among themselves.
• All important leaders of different political parties were egoistic and over-ambitious for power.

Q30: How did the Janta Party make the 1977 elections into a referendum on the emergency imposed in 1975? Explain.
Ans: Prime Minister Mrs Indira Gandhi declared Internal Emergency on 25th June 1975. After the declaration of emergency fundamental rights mentioned in Article 19 was suspended throughout the country and thousand leaders and workers of opposition parties were put in jails. Restrictions were imposed on freedom of the press. The Janata Party made this election into a referendum on the emergency in the backdrop of arrests of thousands of persons and the censorship of the press, the public opinion was against the Congress.

Q31: Examine the legacy of emergency of 1975 in India.
Ans: Following are the legacy of emergency of 1975:

• Faith in the opposition had increased. Now, they believed that they are also capable of forming the government.
• Origin of many organizations that generate awareness for Freedom and Rights.
• Democracy became more pronounced in this period.
• The Congress Party had identified itself with a particular ideology. Claiming to be the only socialist and pro-poor party.

Q32: Explain the reasons for students movement of 1974 in Bihar and the role played by Jayaprakash Narayan in this movement.
Ans: Reasons for Student’s Movement of 1974:
 Students organised movement against:

• Rising prices of food grains, cooking oil and other essential commodities.
•  Corruption in high places.

Assess Role played by Jai Prakash Narayan:

• Satyagraha was organised by Jayaprakash Narayan for Indira Gandhi’s resignation, he appealed to people not to obey illegal and immoral orders by a massive demonstration on 25 June 1975. All these changed the political mood of the country against Congress.

Q33: Evaluate the consequences of declaration of emergency in 1975? 
Ans: 

• It effected civil liberties of peoples i.e. in April11976 it was proved that the government could take away citizens’ right to life and liberty by overruling of high courts under supreme courts and accepted government’s plea.
• The forth-second Amendment was also passed to bring a series of changes in constitution.
• It affected the functioning of mass media also as press censorship took place which banned freedom of press and newspapers, which were supposed to prior approval before they publish any material.
• Despite of filing many petitions government claimed it not to be necessary to be informed the grounds to arrested persons.

Q34: Explain any two lessons learnt from emergency imposed in 1975.
Ans: The emergency brought out weaknesses and strengths both to India’s democracy:

• First lesson was felt that it was extremely difficult to do away with democracy in India.
• Secondly, it amended that internal emergency could be proclaimed only on the grounds of armed rebellion, on the advice to the president to proclaim emergency must be given in writing by council of ministers.
• Thirdly, emergency made everyone more aware of civil liberties as well as courts also took an active role in protecting civil liberties of individuals.

Q35:  Examine the legacy of emergency of 1975 in India.
Ans: The legacy of emergency was felt in every sphere of people’s life and politics:

• Between the elections of 1977 and 1980, Congress identified itself with particular ideology, claiming to be only socialist and pro-poor party.
• The concept of non-Congression was created among oppositions parties.
• The issues of welfare of backward classes began to dominate politics i. e. northern states elected non-Congress leaders of backward class since 1977.
• This period of emergency saw the period of constitutional crisis to loose its origin in constitutional battle over jurisdiction of parliament and judiciary.
• 5This period created political crisis also as the party in power enjoyed absolute majority, still decided to suspend the democratic process.
• 6. The emergency tensed between institution based democracy and democracy based on spontaneous popular participation for which party system was to be blamed.

Q36:  Why is emergency and period around it known as the period of constitutional crisis? Explain.
Ans: 

• The Parliament brought in many new changes in constitution which made an amendment declaring that elections of Prime Minister, President and Vice President could not be challenged in the court.
• The forty second amendment was also passed to bring a series of changes in constitution like duration of legislatures, elections can be postponed by one year during emergency.

Q37: How far do you agree that the government had misused its emergency powers during 1975-77? Explain.
Ans: No, the government hence misused its ‘Emergency Powers’. But it said that it wanted to use the emergency:

• To bring law and order into society.
• To restore efficiency into administration and system.
• To implement the pro-poor welfare programmes.

Q38: How did emergency of 1975 benefit the Indian democratic set up?
Ans: 

• Between the elections of 1977 and 1980, Congress identified itself with particulars ideology, claiming to be only socialist and pro-poor party.
• The concept of non-Congressism was created among opposition parties
•  The issues of welfare of backward class began to dominate politics i. e. Northern states elected non-Congress leaders of backward class since 1977.
• The emergency tensed between institution based democracy and democracy based on spontaneous popular participation for which party system was to be blamed.

Q39: Describe any four circumstances for proclamation of emergency in 1975.
Ans:

• Emergence of Indira Gandhi.
• Power politics became personalised and governmental authority was converted into personalization.
• Bitter party competition.
• Tensed relations between the government and judiciary.

Q40: Discuss the role of Jayaprakash Narayan in Bihar movement and national politics.
Ans: 

• Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan from Janata Party was a Marxist of youth, who became a Gandhian and involved himself in a Bhoodan movement.
• He led Bihar movement and opposed the emergency.
• Bihar students invited him and he accepted on the condition of movement to be non-violent and not to limit only to Bihar territory. Hence, Bihar movement assumed a political character and national appeal.
• This movement demanded dismissal of Congress government in Bihar and called for total revolution in social, economic and political aspects to establish a total democracy.
• Bandhs, gheraos, strikes were organised in protest. Even employees of railways organised a strike which threatened to paralyse the country.
• In 1975, Janata Party led people’s march to parliament to be one of the largest political rallies ever held in capital.
• Janata was supported by non-Congress parties like BJS, socialist parties etc., which projected JP as an alternative to Indira Gandhi.

Q41:  ‘Emergency was a Blackmark in Indian History’. Comment.
Ans: 

• Emergency was declared on the ground of internal disturbances on 25 June 1975 to invoke Article 352 of constitution.
• Prime Minister Indira Gandhi recommended to impose emergency to president Fakhruddin Ali Ahmad.
• Emergency was one of the most controversial episode which possessed different virus regarding to impose emergency.
• Emergency practically suspended the democratic functioning.
• ‘Shah Commission’ exposed many excesses committed during emergency.
• Emergency highlighted some hidden matters over constitutional battle between the parliament and judiciary.
• Tensions or conflicts had been arisen between institution based democracy and popular participation of people.

Q42: Read the passage given below carefully and answer the questions:
Once an emergency is proclaimed, the federal distribution of powers remains practically suspended and al 1 t be power its the hands of the union government. Secondly, the government also gets the power to curtail or restrict all or any of the Fundamental Rights during the emergency. From the wording of the provisions of the Constitution, it is clear that an Emergency is seen as an extra-iordinary condition in which normal democratic politics cannot function. Therefore, special powers are granted to the government.
1. When was emergency imposed?
2. Who recommended emergency to be imposed and to whom?
3. Mention the implications of emergency.
Ans:
1. 25 June 1975.
2. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi recommended to impose emergency to the president Fakhruddin Ali Ahmad.
3. (i) The federal distribution of powers remains practically suspended.
(ii) All the powers are concentrated in the hands of Union government.
(iii) The government also gets power to restrict all or any of Fundamental Rights during emergency.

Q43: Read the passage given below carefully and answer the questions:
There were many acts of dissent and resistance to the Emergency. Many political workers who were not arrested in the first wave, went ‘underground’ and organised protests against the government. Newspapers like the Indian Express and the Statesman protested against censorship by leaving blank spaces where news items had been censored. Magazines like the Seminar and the Mainstream chose to close down rather than submit to censorship. Many journalists were arrested for writing against the Emergency. Many underground newsletters and leaflets were published to bypass censorship. Kannada writer Shivarama Karanth, awarded with Padma Bhushan, and Hindi writer Fanishwarnath Renu, awarded with Padma Shri, returned their awards in protest against the suspension of democracy. By and large, though, such open acts of defiance and resistance were rare.
1. Why did people began to protest against government?
2. How did newspapers protest against censorship?
3. How did writers protest against the emergency?
4. Which magazines protested against censorship?
Ans:
1. Against imposition of emergency.
2. Newspaper like Indian Express and the Statesman protested against censorship by leaving blank spaces where news items had been censored.
3. Kannada writer Shivarama Karanth awarded with Padma Bhushan and Hindi writer Fanishwarnath Renu awarded with Padma Shri returned their awards in protest against suspension of democracy.
4. Magazines like ‘Seminar’ and ‘Mainstream’ chose to close down rather than submit to censorship.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q44: Explain any three lessons from the Emergency imposed in 1975.
Ans: On the advice of Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi, the President declared an Internal emergency on 25th June 1975. Thousands of workers and leaders of opposition parties were put in jails under MISA. Many restrictions were put on freedom of the press. Legislative Assemblies of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu were dissolved. During an emergency, Sanjay Gandhi, the son of Mrs. Indira Gandhi, became very powerful. Mrs. Indira Gandhi announced the Lok Sabha elections in January 1977 and released the imprisoned political leaders.
The following three lessons were learned from the emergency :

• Bureaucracy and Judiciary should be independent. Bureaucracy should be independent and impartial. It should not be committed to the ideology and principles of the ruling party. Rather bureaucracy should be committed to the Constitution. Judiciary should not be subordinated to the executive. Judiciary should be independent and should protect the right and liberties of the citizens.
• The government should run the administration according to the provisions of the Constitution. The Constitution is supreme and its supremacy should be protected by the Judiciary.
• Freedom of the press should not be crushed. Freedom of the press is very essential for the successful working of democracy. Political consciousness is created among the people by the press.

Q45: Examine the developments that gave rise to the conflict between the Union Government and the Judiciary in India.
Ans: Since 1950, the Supreme Court decided hundred of cases involving various laws passed by parliament and state legislatures from time to time. It exercised its power of Judicial review in a number of cases. The question of the amenability of Fundamental Rights came before the Supreme Court of India in the case of Sankari Prasad Vs. Union of India (1951). The unanimous view of the judges was that Fundamental rights are not absolute in character but are subject to Parliament’s power to amend the Constitution under Article 368.
But in 1967 in Golak Nath’s case, the Supreme Court decided that the parliament has no power to amend the provisions of the Fundamental Rights. Hence the controversy over supremacy between the Parliament and the Judiciary started. On 10 February 1970, Supreme Court declared the Banking Companies Act, 1969 invalid and unconstitutional. To neutralize the effects of the Supreme Court’s Judgement, in 1971, 24th and 25th Amendment Acts were passed and these Amendment Acts restored to parliament the powers to amend fundamental rights.
The 24th, 25th, and 29th Constitution Amendment Acts were challenged in the Supreme Court by Swami Kesavananda Bharti, Kerala religious head, and others on a variety of grounds. The case was heard by the full bench of the Supreme Court consisting of 13 Judges. The Supreme Court delivered the judgment on 24 April 1973 and reversed the Golak Nath case ruling by upholding Parliament’s right to amend the Constitution including the Fundamental Rights but not the basic structure or framework’ of the Constitution.
On May 9, 1980, the Supreme Court in Minivera Mills case struck down Section 55 of the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976 which gave unlimited powers to the Parliament. The court held that Section 55 of the Act which reinserted sub-section (4) and (5) in Article 368 was beyond the amending power of the Parliament and was void since it removed all limitations on the power of the Parliament to amend the Constitution and conferred power upon it to amend the constitution in such a manner as to destroy its basic or essential features or its basic structure.
The court also struck down Section 4 of the Constitution 42nd Amendment Act amending Article 31-C giving primacy to Directive Principles of State Policy over fundamental rights. The court held that whatever the Parliament does, it cannot destroy the country’s basic structure. Consequently, any law that tended to radically alter time basic structure must be declared null and void. By declaring certain sections of the 42nd Amendment as ultra vires of the Constitution, the Court has made it clear that the Supreme Court is the final arbiter and interpreter of the Constitution.

Q46: ‘Emergency is one of the most controversial episodes in Indian politics’. Analyze three reasons and three consequences of it.
Ans: On the following ground emergency considered to be one of the most controversial episodes in Indian Politics:

• Excess during Emergency. Basic liberties of the people were suppressed. No individual or party could utter a word against the imposition of emergency or the excess committed by the government.
• The imposition of Black Acts like MISA. During the emergency, various black acts were passed by the Indira government. The people suspected of anything against the government were arrested and thrown behind the bars without any trial under the MISA. The life, liberty, respect, and property of no person were considered safe.
• Constitutional Amendments. Indira gov-ernment lowered the position of the Judiciary through the 42nd amendment. In fact, Judiciary was subordinated to the executive. The scope of Judicial review was limited to a great extent.

The following were the consequences of imposing an internal emergency in June 1975:

• Fundamental Rights were suspended.
• Censorship was imposed on Freedom of the Press and Mass Media.
• Preventive detention laws were enacted.

Q47: What is the ‘Naxalite Movement’? Evaluate its role in Indian politics. Imp.
Ans: The Naxalite movement has been the most important peasant movement in the post-independence movement. A peasant uprising took place in 1967 in the Naxalbari police station area of Darjeeling hills district in West Bengal. This movement was started under the local leadership of the Marxist Party. However, this movement has its roots in the Telbagha Movement. As Partha N. Mukerjee points out some slogans which were used initially by the Naxalites had the historical continuity of Telbagha like :

• We want the abolition of the Zamindari System.
• Land to the tiller.
• Tenant eviction will not be tolerated.
• 25 percent interest for borrowed paddy.
• Go on cultivating without surrendering.
• Defeat the Congress.

In a very short period, this movement spread to major parts of West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh and certain areas of Madhya Pradesh and Bihar. In 1969, the Naxalite group broke off from the CPI (M), and a new party Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist) was formed under the leadership of Charu Majumdar. Naxalites do not believe in democracy. They believe in violence and guerrilla war in order to achieve their aims. Naxalites used force to snatch land from the big landlord and distribute to the poor and landless workers. West Bengal government used strong measures to crush the movement. In 1972, Charu Majumdar died in police custody which created a vacuum in the movement as there was no competent leader to replace him.

Q48: Analyse any three lessons learnt from the emergency of 1975.
Ans: 
(i) The emergency of 1975 at once brought out both the weaknesses’ and the strengths of India’s democracy. Though there are many observers who think that India ceased to be democratic during the emergency, it is noteworthy that normal democratic functioning resumed within a short span of time. Thus, one lesson of Emergency is that it is extremely difficult to do away with democracy in India.
 (ii) It brought out some ambiguities regarding the emergency provision in the constitution that have been rectified since. Now ‘internal’ emergency can be proclaimed only on the grounds of ‘armed rebellion’ and it is necessary that the advice to the President to proclaim emergency must be given in writing by the Council of Ministers.
 (iii) The Emergency made everyone aware of the value of civil liberties. The courts, too, have taken an active role after the emergency in protecting the civil liberties of the individuals. This is in response to the inability of the judiciary to protect civil liberties effectively during the emergency. Many civil liberties organizations came up after this experience.

Q49: Examine the three consequences of emergency imposed in 1975.
Ans: 
(a) Effects on Civil Liberties of Citizens:

• The government made large scale arrests under preventive detention.
• Arrested political persons could not challenge arrest even under Habeas Corpus petition.
• Despite filing many petitions government claimed it not to be necessary to be informed of grounds to arrested persons
• In April 1976, finally it was proved that the government could taken away citizen’s right to life and liberty by over ruling of high courts under supreme court and accepted government’s plea.

(b) Impact on Relationship between Parliament and Judiciary:

• The parliament brought in many new changes in constitution which made an amendment declaring that election of Prime Minister, President and Vice-president could not be challenged in the court.
• The forty-second amendment (42nd) was also passed to bring a series of changes in constitution like duration of legislatures, elections can be postponed by one year during an emergency.

(c) Functioning of Mass Media:

• Press censorship took place which banned freedom of press is newspapers were supposed to seek prior approval before they publish any material.
• Protests, strikes and public agitations were also banned.
• Various fundamental rights were also suspended including even Right to move to Court for Restoration of Fundamental Rights.
• Kannada writer Shivarama Karnata awarded with Padma Bhushan and Hindi writer Fanishwarnath Renu with Padmashri returned their awards on protest against suspension of democracy.
• Newspapers mainly Indian Express, and the Statesman protested against censorship by leaving blank editorial column.

Q50: Examine any six reasons for the imposition of emergency in India in 1975. 
Or
Analyse any three reasons for imposing emergency on 25 June 1975. Did the government misuse its emergency powers? Give any three arguments in support of answers.
Ans:

• Emergency was proclaimed in response to petition filed by Raj Narayan to declare Indira Gandhi’s election invalid.
• On June 25, 1975, the government declared the threat of internal disturbances to invoke Article 352 of constitution.
• Article 352 can declare emergency on ground of either internal or external disturbances.
• The government decided a grave crisis to be arisen to proclaim emergency to bring law and order, restore efficiency and implement pro-poor Welfare Programmes.
• The President FakhruddinAli Ahmad proclaimed emergency which became the most controversial episode in Indian politics.
• Power politics became personalised and governmental authority was converted into personalization

Q51: Assess any three happenings which were responsible for the downfall of Congress Party in the 1977 elections.
Or
‘The 1977 elections for the first time saw the opposition coming to power at the centre’. Examine any six reasons for this change.
Ans: The 1977 elections were evolved as a shock to everyone as Congress Party was defeated for the very first time and opposition party came into power:

• The opposition adopted the slogan ‘save democracy’ against imposition of emergency earlier.
• The opposition campaigned non- democratic character of rule which provided various excesses.
• The opposition party highlighted the preventive detention and press censorship to favour public opinion.
• Janata Party also ensured not to divide non-Congress votes.
• Middle section of North India was moving away from Congress for whom Janata Party became a platform.
• Hence, elections of 1977 emerged many other factors instead about emergency only.

Q52: Explain any three outcomes of Lok Sabha elections of 1977.
Ans: 

• In March 1977 elections, for the first time, Congress lost elections with winning 154 seats only.
• Janata Party and its allies won 330 seats out of 542 seats
• Congress lost from the states of Bihar, U.P., Haryana, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh.
• Janata Party was formed of coalitions under the leadership of Jayaprakash Narayana.
• Janata Party called this election as a referendum on emergency.
• Opposition party realised not to divide the votes to enjoy the power under one umbrella.
• All these indicated a tough time for Congress ahead.

Q53: What is Naxalite movement? Evaluate its role in Indian politics.
Ans: The Naxalites were the Marxist and Leninist agricultural workers of Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar and adjoining areas which organised massive agilations against economic injustice and inequality and demanded redistribution of land to cultivators.

Role in Indian Politics:

• Naxalite, did not participate in the elections formally but these were actively associated with parties.
• Naxalites ensured a better representation of demands of deprived social sections in party politics.
• These movements retained associations or relations alongwith the political parties either as an individual or as an organisations.

Q54: Study the picture given below and answer the questions that follow:

1. What was the slogan of Janata Party to campaign in elections?
2. Identify the person who is sitting on ground holding the slogan.
3. Against which practices Jayaprakash Narayana agitated?
Ans:
1. Save Democracy.
2. Jayaprakash Narayan.
3. Corruption, lawlessness, violence, and most important against imposition of emergency.

Q55: Study the picture given below and answer the questions that follow:

1. When did cartoon appear in the newspaper and why?
2. Identify the person behind Indira Gandhi.
3. Identify what does the ‘Political Crisis’ stand for. Explain.
Ans:
1. This cartoon appeared few days before the declaration of emergency to capture the sense of impending political crisis.
2. The then Congress president D.K. Barooah.
3. Political crisis in 1977 made the party system in India look like a two party system i.e. Congress and non-Congress to end one party dominance and emergence of non-Congress party Janata Party as an umbrella for others.

Q56: Study the picture given below and answer the questions that follow:

1. What situation does the picture refer to?
2. Which Commission is represented into the cartoon?
3. Mention some points of this Commission’s report.
Ans:
1. Appearance of Indira Gandhi before Commission but refused to answer any question.
2. Shah Commission’s report about emergency.
3. (i) There were many excesses committed during emergency.
(ii) Several restrictions were put on the press sometimes without legal sanction.
(iii) Many people were arrested under preventive detention law.
(iv) Even general manager of Delhi Power Supply Corporation received verbal orders from the officers of Lt. Governor of Delhi to cut electricity to all newspaper presses at 2 a.m. on 26 June 1975.