Peep into the Past-relating to emergency
From Vijay Sabharwal
KURUKSHETRA - The imposition of an ‘Emergency’ in the country by Mrs. Indira Gandhi 40 years back saw most of the prominent opposition leaders behind bars, and most of the Congress leaders meekly bowing to the will of Mrs.Gandhi. However, there were a few including the veteran Congress leader G.L. Nanda who even then dared to oppose this move. Mr. Nanda, who played a pivotal role in the creation of separate state of Haryana when Akalis were demanding ‘Punjabi Suba’ was, conferred the title of Bharat Rattana posthumously; during the period Mr. I.K.Gujral was the Prime Minister.
Mrs. Gandhi had good regard for Mr. Nanda as he was instrumental in her becoming the Prime Minister. Mr. Nanda became the interim Prime Minister for the second time after the death of Lal Bahadur Shastri in 1965, but opted out of the race when Mrs. Gandhi wanted to contest for the post of the Congress Parliamentary Party leader against Morarji Desai.
On this day of Emergency anniversary, an incident, which showed the terror prevailing at that time and the firm stand taken by Mr. Nanda, comes to my mind. It was on July 4, 1975 the birthday of Mr.Nanda, that I took late Dr.Shanti Swaroop Sharma, late Devi Dayal Nanha, Lala Naurata Ram and my late father Dharambir Sabharwal, who were close associates of Mr.Nanda in his parliamentary constituency of Kurukshetra, in my car to his residence in Delhi. We reached in the morning to pay our best wishes to Nandaji. He came out to meet us in the small office in the lawns just opposite to the main door of the building.
While he was discussing a few issues regarding the development of Kurukshetra, his Personnel Secretary Mr. Balraj Puri informed that there was a call from the Prime Minister’s residence. Mr. Nanda picked up the telephone and said, “Thank you for the best wishes”. After listening for a while more, he told the caller: “Convey my thanks to Indiraji and tell her there is no need to come here personally to wish me.” When the caller persisted, Mr. Nanda repeated emphatically, “No, no, there is no need!”
After replacing the telephone, Nandaji disclosed that Mrs. Gandhi wanted to come and wish him personally but that he had refused. Just a minute or so later there was another call from the PM House. The caller said that Mrs. Gandhi had expressed her resolve to visit Nandaji and that she would be starting for his residence within the next few minutes. Mr. Nanda was furious and questioned, “When I am making it clear that there is no need for this, why is she coming here?”
Despite our efforts to try and pacify him, Nandaji was quite tense. He rushed in to the house to inform his wife about the visit of Mrs. Gandhi. Meanwhile, a large contingent of security men and police descended on Nandaji’s residence. The security cover was very heavy as Mrs. Gandhi was moving out of her house for the first time after the imposition of the Emergency. One officer entered Nandaji’s office and directed that we move into a small room at the rear from where nothing was visible outside. Dr. Shanti Swaroop Sharma began to argue with the officer pointing out that the room was extremely dingy.
Meanwhile, Nandaji returned and enquired what the matter was. When the officer informed him about his directions to us, Mr. Nanda became furious and said that this was his house and nobody could dishonour his guests in such a manner. The officer immediately apologized and allowed us to sit where we were.
Mr. Nanda received Indiraji at the door and both of them, along with Mr. R.K. Dhawan, went inside the house. They came out after about twenty-five minutes.
Upon returning to join us back in the office after seeing off Mrs Gandhi, Mr. Nanda appeared to be significantly relieved. He narrated in detail to us the conversation that had gone between him and Mrs. Gandhi. He disclosed that Mrs. Gandhi had explained the conditions, which had forced her to take the extreme step of imposing a state of Emergency and requested him to issue a statement in support of the imposition of Emergency as was being done by other political leaders.
However, Mr. Nanda refused to appreciate her actions in this regard, instead pointing out that a large number of freedom fighters, including her father Jawahar Lal Nehru, had suffered a great deal to achieve freedom and democracy for the country. In fact, he criticized the “Cleanness Operation” started in various parts of Delhi, especially Karol Bagh. He told Mrs. Gandhi that ‘we do not have to make Delhi a Paris, but instead take steps to provide livelihood to the people. By throwing out ‘rehriwallahs’ (hawkers) or roadside vendors, we are making them jobless.”
After a few days, the latter part of the conversation between the two leaders regarding throwing out of rehriwallas appeared in a few vernacular papers but Mr. Nanda’s obvious displeasure against the Emergency and his outright rejection of Mrs.Gandhi’s actions was not highlighted, possibly due to restrictions on the media.
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| Lt. Gen (retd) Dr. DDS Sandhu Vice-Chancellor of Kurukshetra University (writer on his left) offering flowers at Nanda's Samadhi at Kurukshetra |
Nandaji shifted to Kurukshetra and tried to remain here for most of the time during the period of the Emergency, keeping himself busy with projects like the restoration of the Brahmasarovar, which even today is the pride of this town. During this period many senior Congressmen came here to hold talks with Nandaji but he refused to have anything to do with the Emergency and in fact highlighted the atrocities being brought to his notice.
He resigned from the Congress and many of his associates here deserted the party at that time. He even refused to contest the parliamentary elections after the lifting of the Emergency. Later Nandaji was always proud to disclose that he never supported imposition of Emergency despite the odds.
