The Emergency: A political battle and a personal story

I write this as India marks the 50th anniversary of the 1975 Emergency, during which the Constitution itself was weaponised to create a dictatorship.

- Rohan Jaitley

My father, Arun Jaitley, is remembered as amongst the most eloquent leaders of the nation, a staunch nationalist, astute politician, lawyer par excellence and a unique consensus builder, who worked relentlessly to ensure collaborative process till the result was something that every member could at least accept, if not support.

Curious, I once asked how he had much forbearance for the diametrically opposite views of others. He responded with lessons learned from the Emergency, and what it had cost to safeguard the right to voice an opinion different from that of those in power.

In 1973, it became evident that the government led by Indira Gandhi had neither the intention nor the ability to alter its economic policies that had led to high inflation and mass unemployment. My father was at this time, an aspiring law student and Delhi University (DU) Students Union president.

Noting the change in political winds and the wave of student agitations inspired by Jayaprakash Narayan (JP), my father convened a rally in the DU campus which JP addressed. The rally witnessed an unprecedented turnout, grabbing the attention of the Congress leadership. Within the year, Mrs Gandhi lost her position as MP pursuant to the Raj Narain case, mounting pressure for her resignation. This led to declaration of the Emergency in the intervening night of June 25-26, 1975. Articles 14, 19, 21 and 22 also stood suspended.