Why did some critics consider Indira Gandhi too autocratic?

She seized emergency powers.

Explanation:

Indira Gandhi, the Primer Minister of India, declared a state of emergency in India that lasted for 21 months, from 1957. to 1977. The statement explained that an emergency had to be announced to control “internal disturbances”.

During these 21 months of the emergency, elections were suspended, many of Gandhi’s opponents were imprisoned, and there was harsh censorship of the press and media. While Indira Gandhi said the state of emergency was declared to save India’s democracy, it was seen as the act of autocratic power and one of the most controversial events in the political history of India.