The President Takes Over

by Bhaskar Sarkar

End of the Emergency

  On the 172nd day the first session of the new Parliament was convened. The new members declared their assets and were sworn in. Thereafter the speaker was elected and the Government won the vote of confidence. The new ministers were sworn in. Over the next two weeks, the various bills were introduced and passed.

  On the 187th day of emergency, the President again addressed the nation. He hoped that he had fulfilled his responsibility of upholding the Constitution and the rule of law. He said that the new Prime Minister and his team should take their responsibilities seriously. He hoped that they would lead India into a golden era. The coffers of the Government were full. There were no populist compulsions. The difficult deeds had been done. Now it was for the new government to work selflessly with a purpose, with pragmatism and patriotism to build a strong, prosperous and secular India. He wished the Prime Minister, his team and the people of India the best.

  With these words, he declared the lifting of the emergency.

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