4. JP movement, 1974
In 1974, when Indira Gandhi's rule was at its peak, there was rise in prices of essential commodities.
In Gujarat, students came out on the streets when hostel mess prices were hiked.
The protests soon took the shape on an anti-corruption movement and spread to Bihar.
Later it became a pan Indian mass movement with Gandhian socialist Jay Prakash Narayan as the leader.
The J.P. movement's motto was Sampoorna Kranti (total revolution),
The movement gradually gained momentum and many youngsters, includig Lalu Yadav, Nitish Kumar, Sushil Modi, Narendra Modi, became part of it . .
On April 8, 1974, at the age of 72, he led a silent procession at Patna. But the procession was lathi charged.
On June 5, 1974, Jayaprakash addressed a mammoth crowd at Gandhi Maidan in Patna.
The movement's reach was astounding.
In 1975, the Allahabad High Court unseated prime minister Indira Gandhi for violation of electoral law and Jayaprakash Narayan demanded her resignation.
Finally, Indira Gandhi imposed emergency rule on the midnight of June 25, 1975 which continued till 1977, when in the general elections Indira Gandhi and her Congress Party were thrown out of power by the people through ballot.
JP blessed the new Janata Party government by Morarji Desai, but the Janata Party soon disintegrated by 1979 due to infighting and constant bickering.
