Seldom has the Prime Minister looked so sombre on such occasions as during her address to the nation from the ramparts of the Red Ford in Delhi on independence day. Not once in 50 minutes did a smile flicker across her face. She had reasons to be concerned. While the situation in Punjab continues to cause anxiety in view of the confrontationist policies of the Akali Dal and the SGPC, Tamils of Indian descent are once again being massacred in Sri Lanka. Mrs Gandhi spoke on both these issues with great care, as befits a person in her position. But no careful listener could miss the point that her statement on recent developments in Sri Lanka reflected a deterioration in India’s international position. When the racial riots broke out in the neighbouring island last year, New Delhi had little difficulty in insisting that President Jayewardene did not “invite” foreign forces to “assist” his government and in persuading him to accept its good offices for finding a long-term solution to the Tamil problem. This time the ruthless actions of the Sri Lankan armed forces have been preceded by the induction of Israeli and British specialists in intelligence and anti-terrorist activities and the rejection in fact, if not in name, of India’s mediatory services. Naturally Mrs Gandhi could not refer to this international consequence of the Akali and extremist activities in Punjab. But connection between Colombo’s behaviour and the recent upheaval in Punjab is too obvious to have been missed by her. That must depress her, as it must depress any Indian. Around 40,000 Tamils have already sought refuge in our country and many more thousands are bound to follow. But the number of refugees is not the main issue. The main issue is that Sri Lankan authorities no longer regard it necessary to show any regard for this country’s susceptibilities and interests and that they feel free to butcher Tamils.
That apart, Mrs Gandhi spoke as a national, not as a Congress leader. The distinction is not easy to define but it is there and in her independence day address Mrs Gandhi preserved it. While, for example, she defended the record of her government and met the opposition criticism, she did so soberly without attacking the opposition and the press as she tends to do. She even went to the extent of saying that if she drew attention to activities of hostile external forces, she did not do so with a view to distracting attention from difficulties at home which she knew remained formidable. Similarly, while she emphasized the urgent need for preserving the country’s unity and integrity, she did not blame opposition parties or her other critics for the challenges facing the nation. This restraint is particularly welcome in view of the forthcoming poll to the Lok Sabha in the next few months.