Monday 26 June 2017

Emergency 1975 Vs Gujarat pogrom 2002


1975 Emergency was preceded by problems like bad economic conditions due to 1971 Pakistan war and 1974 oil crisis. Strikes and protests were everywhere. On June 12, 1975 Allahabad High Court Justice Jagmohanlal Sinha while delivering judgement said that even though her violations were relatively minor, Indira Gandhi was guilty of corrupt practices in her election to the Lok Sabha in 1971, and the law allowed for only one punishment - declaring her unseated. The Times of India described it as "firing the Prime Minister for a traffic ticket." On her appeal for stay on June 24, 1975, Supreme Court Justice Krishna Iyer granted a conditional stay of the order and that Indira Gandhi could participate in the parliament proceedings as Prime Minister, but without a vote. “There will be no legal embargo on her holding the office of Prime Minister,” Justice Krishna Iyer added. The very next day, in the dead of night, Indira Gandhi imposed Emergency, imprisoned leaders of the Opposition and imposed press censorship.


My View:
None will dispute that Emergency 1975 was very bad undermining citizen rights and opposition leaders and any body opposing government was put in jail without following any process of law and constitution undermined. In contrast the Gujarat pogrom 2002 after Godhra train carnage, what happened in Gujarat was not a spontaneous uprising, it was a carefully orchestrated attack against Muslims, and the attacks were planned in advance and organized with extensive participation of the police and state government officials at the behest of Gujarat Chief Minister Modi. In the riots which lasted for over two months more than 2,000 people were killed out of which 250 were Hindus and rest Muslims. There was widespread destruction of property. 273 dargahs, 241 mosques, 19 temples, and 3 churches had been either destroyed or damaged. It is estimated that Muslim property losses were, 100,000 houses, 1,100 hotels, 15,000 businesses, 3,000 handcarts and 5,000 vehicles destroyed. This scale of violence, destruction & killings simply can't happen for over two months if there was governance. Now, our beloved PM Modi talks about democracy and wants us to forget 2002 and remember 1975!

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