Apparently Mr. Bhupesh Gupta (CPI) and some other opposition MPs have learnt nothing from their experience during the emergency. Else they would not propound so persistently and enthusiastically the view that Parliament’s powers to amend the Constitution are unlimited and that the Supreme Court has no right to restrict them. … Read More
The Chinese embassy in New Delhi has confirmed that Mr. Huang Hua will not be visiting India next October, as earlier indicated, or any time later this year. The embassy’s version is that the Foreign Minister is too busy to accept India’s invitation. But it is difficult to accept this … Read More
It is difficult to say whether the Iranian government has in fact uncovered an attempt at a military coup or whether it has conjured up one. Neither possibility can be dismissed. It is possible that some disaffected air force officers had established contacts with the former Prime Minister, Mr. Shahpur … Read More
It was only to be expected that Mrs. Gandhi’s government would one day recognize the Heng Samrin regime in Kampuchea. The ruling party had made a clear commitment to this effect in its election manifesto last December. It could not have gone back on it unless some dramatic development had … Read More
It is not at all surprising that President Brezhnev has flatly turned down the West German Chancellor, Herr Schmidt’s plea for a gradual withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan. This was a foregone conclusion even before Herr Schmidt reached Moscow. In view of the continuing fragility of the Karmal regime … Read More
Cruel fate has cut short an extraordinary political career. It has removed from Indian politics the most forceful personality it has known since independence. Indeed, we have not had another political figure like him since Gandhiji burst on the scene with the force of a volcano over six decade ago. … Read More
It is difficult to make a general statement on the Indian political situation without being aware that it needs to be qualified. Last Monday, for example, we published an article in these columns expressing the view that the second generation leadership had failed the country. But the writer had only … Read More
For some obscure reasons the Andhra chief minister, Mr. Chenna Reddy, has revived the controversy over the suitability of the present Constitution and form of government. The Union law minister, Mr. Shiv Shankar, has had to answer questions in the Rajya Sabha outlining the government’s position on this issue. He … Read More
It was only to be expected that Nirad Chaudhuri’s article “A Sterile Intelligentsia” (May 25) would invite extreme reactions, both favourable and unfavourable. Nirad is always contentious. But the proper response to a stimulating writer is not to agree or disagree with him. That kind of lazy reaction amounts to … Read More
In all probability Mrs. Gandhi has already made her choice of UP’s next chief minister and decided what responsibilities she is going to assign to Mr. Sanjay Gandhi. In that case the plea of several UP legislators that he be made chief minister of the state is infructuous and so … Read More
