It would be comforting to believe that the ugly developments in Haryana do not represent the way Indian democracy has come to function. But to believe that would be to delude ourselves. Just as it could be said in the first two decades of the century that what Bengal thought … Read More
The succession to the 75-year-old and ailing Mr. Brezhnev has not yet been settled. But apparently the choice has narrowed down to two – Mr. Chernenko, a long-time protégé and aide of the Soviet president, and Mr. Andropov, who has just been elevated to the powerful Secretariat of the central … Read More
The outcome of the election to the vidhan sabha in Haryana last week posed a difficult problem for Mrs. Gandhi both as Prime Minister and Congress (I) president. She could not have resolved it satisfactorily whatever decision she took. Broadly, two choices were open to her – to try and … Read More
Pakistan remains determined to push a no-war pact on India. General Zia-ul-Haq has not formally rejected Mrs Gandhi’s proposal regarding a treaty of peace, friendship and cooperation on the lines of the Indo-Soviet pact of 1971, but he has put it on the shelf on the plea that it is … Read More
As things have worked out, Mrs. Gandhi will now be visiting the United States ahead of the Soviet Union. This is obviously not deliberate. Circumstances beyond her control account for it. As such it would be wrong to see in this order of visits an attempt to shift the emphasis … Read More
Elections are generally not won or lost on foreign policy issues. Not even in the United States where the administration is obliged to heed public opinion. The British Conservative party under so distinguished a leader as Mr. Winston Churchill lost the election in the wake of victory in World War … Read More
From the scanty reports that are available, the US vice-resident, Mr. Bush’s visit to Beijing does not appear to have helped resolve, or even significantly narrow down, the differences between the two governments on the question of American arms supply to Taiwan. This is not surprising. The issue is too … Read More
Hardly anyone has taken at its face value the Union home minister, Giani Zail Singh’s statement that some foreign agency is responsible for the current trouble in Punjab. This speaks for the low credibility of the government. Gone are the days when it could hope to fob off anyone with … Read More
The casual and clumsy manner in which those close to Mrs. Gandhi have handled her proposed visits to the Soviet Union and the United States is symptomatic of a deeper malaise – a failure to recognise that India is the most significant power in the region which neither super-power can … Read More
On the eve of her departure for Saudi Arabia, on April 17, Mrs. Gandhi did indicate that she would be visiting the Soviet Union in June and the United States in July. The official spokesman cannot explain away this fact. He should not have tried to do so. It would … Read More
