NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi was today [June 12] convicted of corrupt election practices and disqualified from holding office for six years. But a stay order was quickly issued, allowing her to remain in power pending an appeal. Mrs. Gandhi immediately announced she would appeal to the Supreme Court, and a Congress Party statement said the Prime Minister “will continue to remain in office pending an appeal. …”

Socialist leader Raj Narain, who brought the corruption charges against the Premier … demanded Mrs. Gandhi’s resignation. Mr Narain celebrated his success by distributing sweetmeats to Opposition leaders and friends visiting him at his home in the capital. …

…[L]eaders of the Opposition … called for her immediate resignation. … …[T]he leader of the Jan Sangh party in the Lower House of Parliament, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, called on Indians to “rise in revolt”. … He alleged that Mrs Gandhi “has dealt a death blow to Indian democracy”. … …[F]or the … daughter of … Nehru, who came to power nine years ago, it was an agonising decision whether to stay on in power at the risk of further political damage or quit while she contested the … decision.

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2025