The Congress leadership has been too clever by half. There is no other way to describe its handling of the forthcoming by-election in Allahabad. It created the impression that it might field Mr Amitabh Bachchan in order to oblige Mr V.P. Singh first to canvass support for himself in the … Read More
Even while the clean-up operation by the security forces was on in the Golden Temple complex, it had become obvious that the terrorists would strike with even greater ferocity wherever they can at vulnerable sections of society. No group in Punjab is more vulnerable than the poor immigrant workers from … Read More
In securing the surrender of the terrorists in the Golden Temple, the Indian state has won a major victory in the cause of the country’s unity and integrity. Those who have made this victory possible deserve the nation’s gratitude. The foremost among them are the men and officers of the … Read More
In the context of developments in our Punjab, it is difficult to think of anything more ridiculous, indeed insulting, than the agreement which the Union Home secretary has signed with his Pakistani counterpart on joint patrolling of some sectors of the border. Implicit in this agreement is the belief that … Read More
The security forces in Punjab must be commended for the way they are trying to deal with the terrorists in the Golden Temple complex. They may well manage to make it impossible for the militants to build fortifications in and around the complex without entering it. Indeed, it appears that … Read More
We are not quite back to the pre-Operation Bluestar situation in the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar yet. For one thing, the complex has not been fortified in the way it had been in 1984. For another, there is no Bhindranwale presiding over the build-up. But it cannot be denied … Read More
Since Mr Nehru sent a plane to rescue Indonesian leaders fighting a war of national liberation against the Dutch in 1947, independent India has not made so daring a move as in inviting President Najibullah Khan in the wake of the Soviet decision to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan. Implicit … Read More
Clearly the Joint Parliamentary Committee has not settled the controversy regarding the alleged payoffs in the Bofors gun deal to the satisfaction of the general public, not to speak of the government’s critics. Indeed, even those who do not subscribe to the charge that it has done a whitewash would … Read More
Mr Rajiv Gandhi has sprung a big surprise on the country. It is doubtful if anyone outside the small circle of his aides, if there, could have anticipated that he was about to invite President Najibullah for a discussion of the post-Geneva accord situation in Afghanistan. To be candid, we … Read More
Finally the government of India has spoken about Pakistan’s deep involvement with the terrorists in Punjab with the necessary firmness. This inevitably raises the question why it has been so muted in its response all this time. Only Mr Rajiv Gandhi can answer this question. One point is, however, reasonably … Read More
