Assertion: The opposition leaders criticised Indira Gandhi's statesmanship after the Bangladesh crisis.

Reason: After the Bangladesh crisis, Indira Gandhi was seen not only as the protector of the poor and the underprivileged but also as a strong nationalist leader.

The Assertion is incorrect but the Reason is correct.

The correct answer is Option 3 - The Assertion is incorrect but the Reason is correct.

Assertion: The opposition leaders criticised Indira Gandhi's statesmanship after the Bangladesh crisis. (INCORRECT)

Reason: After the Bangladesh crisis, Indira Gandhi was seen not only as the protector of the poor and the underprivileged but also as a strong nationalist leader. (CORRECT)

CORRECTION in Assertion: The opposition leaders ADMIRED Indira Gandhi's statesmanship after the Bangladesh crisis.

Soon after the 1971 Lok Sabha elections, a major political and military crisis broke out in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). The 1971 elections were followed by the crisis in East Pakistan and the Indo- Pak war leading to the establishment of Bangladesh. These events added to the popularity of Indira Gandhi. Even the opposition leaders admired her statesmanship. Her party swept through all the State Assembly elections held in 1972. She was seen not only as the protector of the poor and the underprivileged, but also as a strong nationalist leader. The opposition to her, either within the party or outside of it, simply did not matter.