Indira Gandhi: woman and politician
As a political figure, Indira Gandhi declared herself in 1955 when she joined the party leadership of the Indian National Congress: since 1959 she served as party president, in 1964 she became a member of the government of Lal Bahadur Shastri, and on January 19, 1966, after his death - the prime minister of India.
Having no significant support in her party, Indira Gandhi won the elections of 1966 with a small margin, and only in 1971 became the undisputed leader of the country. This year, she sanctioned the armed support of the separatist movement in Bangladesh, which contributed to the growth of support for Indira Gandhi and the victory of the INC in the 1972 parliamentary elections.
However, the years of her leadership were accompanied by a fall in the economy, inflation and inter-ethnic conflicts. The allegations made by the Socialist Party against Gandhi led to a judicial investigation. In 1975, the Indian Supreme Court found Indira Gandhi guilty of corruption and falsification of election results in 1971 and forbade her to engage in political activities for 6 years. In response to a court decision, Gandhi declared a state of emergency in the country and authorized mass arrests of political opponents.
In 1977, Gandhi lost the election, and withdrew from the INC, forming a new party of the INC (I), with which she convincingly won the elections of 1980 and again became the Prime Minister of India.
In 1984, she was killed by her own Sikh bodyguards in response to the bloody suppression of the separatist Sikh movement in the state of Punjab. The son of Indira Gandi Rajiv became the heir to power in the party and the country.
Having no significant support in her party, Indira Gandhi won the elections of 1966 with a small margin, and only in 1971 became the undisputed leader of the country. This year, she sanctioned the armed support of the separatist movement in Bangladesh, which contributed to the growth of support for Indira Gandhi and the victory of the INC in the 1972 parliamentary elections.
Photo © jnsm.com.ua
However, the years of her leadership were accompanied by a fall in the economy, inflation and inter-ethnic conflicts. The allegations made by the Socialist Party against Gandhi led to a judicial investigation. In 1975, the Indian Supreme Court found Indira Gandhi guilty of corruption and falsification of election results in 1971 and forbade her to engage in political activities for 6 years. In response to a court decision, Gandhi declared a state of emergency in the country and authorized mass arrests of political opponents.
In 1977, Gandhi lost the election, and withdrew from the INC, forming a new party of the INC (I), with which she convincingly won the elections of 1980 and again became the Prime Minister of India.
In 1984, she was killed by her own Sikh bodyguards in response to the bloody suppression of the separatist Sikh movement in the state of Punjab. The son of Indira Gandi Rajiv became the heir to power in the party and the country.
