Jayprakash Narayan

• Context (TH): Jayaprakash Narayan (Lok Nayak) was an independence activist, socialist and political leader.
• He was the founder and general secretary of the Congress Socialist Party and the Socialist Party.
• Jawaharlal Nehru invited him to join his government, but he declined.
• After 1955, he quit active politics and joined the Bhoodan movement.
• He became the symbol of opposition to Emergency and was the moving force behind the formation of the Janata Party.

Jayaprakash Narayan’s Role in the Restoration of Democracy

• Jayaprakash Narayan organised a massive demonstration in Delhi’s Ramlila grounds on 25 June 1975 for Indira Gandhi’s resignation.
• He announced a nationwide satyagraha and asked the army, the police, and government employees not to obey “illegal and immoral orders”.
• In response, GoI invoked Article 352 of IC and declared an emergency on the grounds of internal disturbance.
• After the emergency, the Janta party formed a government, and JP became the popular symbol of the restoration of democracy.