Breaking News: The Death of the Indian Constitution was not on June 25, 1975, but in 2019 When the PMLA was Modified

 Breaking News: The Death of the Indian Constitution was not on June 25, 1975, but in 2019 When the PMLA was Modified


Iron Lady of India

 

Living through the Emergency period in India was a unique and transformative experience for me. I had just finished my pre-engineering and was looking forward to college for an engineering degree or some higher education. Before the Emergency was declared, even going to get an application for admission meant dealing with abuse from seniors, making life unnecessarily difficult. Then, the Emergency was declared, and everything changed.

I joined Punjab University and had a wonderful life during this period. Public services and bureaucratic processes became more efficient. Employees showed up for work on time, banks operated smoothly without long lines, and there was a sense of order that hadn't been there before. Trains ran on time, and government services saw huge efficiencies. The economy even seemed to stabilize, with negative inflation as businesses avoided stockpiling goods to increase prices later, keeping prices stable.

Of course, the Emergency had its controversial aspects. The aggressive population control measures implemented during this time were widely criticized and ultimately backfired. However, from my perspective, many of the criticisms were overblown. The Emergency was declared constitutionally in response to the disruptions caused by opposition parties, which had made it difficult for the government to operate. There were also rumors that a lot of foreign money had come into India to destabilize the government, leaving it with no option but to take this action, which was allowed under the constitution that Mrs. Gandhi followed. If Mrs. Gandhi had managed the lifting of the Emergency more gradually, many of the gains achieved during that period could have been preserved.

In contrast, the current political climate under Narendra Modi feels vastly different to me. It seems like the government has engaged in numerous undemocratic practices, from expelling members of parliament to pass controversial laws to bribing legislators to control state governments. Central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and Income Tax (IT) departments have been brought under direct control, compromising their integrity. The corruption of the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the placement of corrupt governors in states run by opposing governments have made it difficult for these states to govern effectively.

One of the most significant criticisms I have is the constitutional violation I believe occurred in 2019 with the modification of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), which shifted the burden of proof to the accused. To me, this change marked the true death of the constitution in India, far more so than the declaration of the Emergency in 1975.

Reflecting on these experiences, I can't help but feel nostalgic for the order and efficiency of the Emergency period, despite its widespread criticisms. Living through that time, I saw firsthand how personal experiences can shape one's view of broader political events. The contrast between the structured, well-regulated environment of the Emergency and the current era of perceived undemocratic practices under Modi raises important questions about governance, efficiency, and the balance between order and democratic freedoms. My experiences offer a unique viewpoint on how different political eras in India have impacted both the nation and individuals like myself. have impacted both the nation and individuals like myself.

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