02-18-2005, 07:04 AM
<b>Towards Emergency</b>
Pokhran test 18 May 1974.
Beginning of 1973 Indira Gandhiâs popularity began to decline.
Economic situation -
Recession, growing unemployment, rampant inflation and scarcity of foodstuffs created a serious crisis.
10 million refugees from Bangladesh during 1971 had depleted the grain reserves
Cost of the Bangladesh war
A large budgetary deficit.
Drained foreign exchange reserves.
Monsoon rains failed for two years in succession during 1972 and 1973, leading to a terrible drought in most parts of the country and a massive shortage of foodgrains, and fuelling their prices.
Drop in power generation and combined with the fall in agricultural production
Rise in unemployment 1973
Crude oil increased four-fold
Massive increase in the prices of petroleum products and fertilisers.
Prices rose continuously, by 22 per cent in 1972-73 alone.
Scarcity of essential articles of consumption.
An all-India railway strike in May 1974, lasted twenty-two days.
In May 1973, there was a mutiny in U.P. by the Provincial Armed Constabulary, which clashed with the army sent to discipline it, leading to the death of over thirty-five constables and soldiers.
Congress had been declining as an organization and proved incapable of dealing with the political crisis at the state and grassroots levels.
Growing corruption in most areas of life
Widespread belief that the higher levels of the ruling party and administration were involved in it.
The whiff of corruption touched even Indira Gandhi when her inexperienced younger son, Sanjay Gandhi, was given a licence to manufacture 50,000 Maruti cars a year.
Pokhran test 18 May 1974.
Beginning of 1973 Indira Gandhiâs popularity began to decline.
Economic situation -
Recession, growing unemployment, rampant inflation and scarcity of foodstuffs created a serious crisis.
10 million refugees from Bangladesh during 1971 had depleted the grain reserves
Cost of the Bangladesh war
A large budgetary deficit.
Drained foreign exchange reserves.
Monsoon rains failed for two years in succession during 1972 and 1973, leading to a terrible drought in most parts of the country and a massive shortage of foodgrains, and fuelling their prices.
Drop in power generation and combined with the fall in agricultural production
Rise in unemployment 1973
Crude oil increased four-fold
Massive increase in the prices of petroleum products and fertilisers.
Prices rose continuously, by 22 per cent in 1972-73 alone.
Scarcity of essential articles of consumption.
An all-India railway strike in May 1974, lasted twenty-two days.
In May 1973, there was a mutiny in U.P. by the Provincial Armed Constabulary, which clashed with the army sent to discipline it, leading to the death of over thirty-five constables and soldiers.
Congress had been declining as an organization and proved incapable of dealing with the political crisis at the state and grassroots levels.
Growing corruption in most areas of life
Widespread belief that the higher levels of the ruling party and administration were involved in it.
The whiff of corruption touched even Indira Gandhi when her inexperienced younger son, Sanjay Gandhi, was given a licence to manufacture 50,000 Maruti cars a year.