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Indira Gandhi had neither badassery nor iron resolve.
She had massive insecurities and paranoia, so both her inner circle of bureaucrats and the Soviet Embassy worked tirelessly to paper over this weakness, by buying the loyalty of the media, academia, and state institutions. https://twitter.com/foodonmymind/status/1352261781893234690
She had massive insecurities and paranoia, so both her inner circle of bureaucrats and the Soviet Embassy worked tirelessly to paper over this weakness, by buying the loyalty of the media, academia, and state institutions. https://twitter.com/foodonmymind/status/1352261781893234690
Basically,
1. She grew up isolated, with her father was in prison and her mother dying of TB in a sanatorium.
2. On an unofficial visit to the USSR, her KGB hosts won her over by showering her with attention. Saw her as easily mouldable because of her insecurities and paranoia.
1. She grew up isolated, with her father was in prison and her mother dying of TB in a sanatorium.
2. On an unofficial visit to the USSR, her KGB hosts won her over by showering her with attention. Saw her as easily mouldable because of her insecurities and paranoia.
3. After Shastri's convenient death in the USSR, the Congress promoted her to party leader, as a "goongi gudiya" puppet.
4. The Soviet Embassy began financing her as an asset, regularly sending suitcases of cash to her official address, in person.
4. The Soviet Embassy began financing her as an asset, regularly sending suitcases of cash to her official address, in person.
5. With her new resources and connections, she split the Congress, accusing Morarji Desai and the Pradesh Congress leaders of being conservatives.
6. Took the help of the CPI to keep the Congress (O) out of power, and embedded CPI members in the MHRD, JNU, NCERT in return.
6. Took the help of the CPI to keep the Congress (O) out of power, and embedded CPI members in the MHRD, JNU, NCERT in return.
7. Began smearing all opposition forces as CIA agents and "the foreign hand", be it Morarji Desai, George Fernandes, AB Vajpayee, or JP Narayan.
8. Started talking about the need for a "committed bureaucracy, judiciary, and press", loyal to her party, not to the Constitution.
8. Started talking about the need for a "committed bureaucracy, judiciary, and press", loyal to her party, not to the Constitution.
9. Popular movements like the 'Nav Nirman Andolan' and 'Sampoorna Kranti' came up to challenge the corrupt authoritarianism of the Congress (I).
10. Socialist leader Raj Narain moved Allahabad High Court alleging Indira misused state machinery in her election campaign.
10. Socialist leader Raj Narain moved Allahabad High Court alleging Indira misused state machinery in her election campaign.
11. Allahabad High Court found Indira Gandhi guilty of misuse of state machinery in her personal election campaign, and disqualified her from Parliament.
12. A paranoid Indira Gandhi saw this as a deep conspiracy, and declared Emergency on the grounds of "internal disturbance".
12. A paranoid Indira Gandhi saw this as a deep conspiracy, and declared Emergency on the grounds of "internal disturbance".
