The government of India must possess an extraordinary capacity for being surprised if it is indeed surprised over the Pakistan government’s protest over Mr. PV Narasimha Rao’s and Mrs. Gandhi’s statements over current developments in the neighbouring country. Normally it should have anticipated the reaction. It is, in fact, unlikely … Read More
It is obviously too early to try to predict the outcome of the current agitation in Pakistan. Indeed, it is too early to assess its true nature. Even so, an attempt at assessment must be made, however tentatively. To begin with, two points may be made as if to clear … Read More
It is obvious that Congress (I) MPs want a discussion in Parliament on the Reddy-Desai correspondence because they believe that they can thereby embarrass not only the former prime minister but possibly also opposition parties which then constituted the Janata. In the process, however, they may embarrass their own leadership … Read More
The selective publication of letters exchanged between the former President, Mr. Sanjiva Reddy, and the former Prime Minister, Mr. Morarji Desai, raises important issues. The publication perhaps constitutes a violation of the Official Secrets Act. But this is the least of the issues it raises. For all we know, the … Read More
Even before President Jayewardene’s meeting with Indian journalists on Thursday, it should have been obvious that the process of finding a solution to the Sinhalese-Tamil problem is going to be a prolonged and painful affair. His statement confirms this assessment. Indeed, if he has his way, it will be a … Read More
The intensity of the anti-Zia agitation in Pakistan comes as a surprise as much to most of us in this country as to observers of the Pakistani scene elsewhere. On the face of it, General Zia has been firmly in control; the armed forces, his principal constituency, have been reasonably … Read More
As we celebrate independence day once again it is only natural that we should be asking ourselves whether we have made good use of our freedom in the last 36 years. Answers to this question will differ, as they have always differed. But it should be possible to agree on … Read More
Mr. Paul Joseph, joint controller, stock exchange, in New Delhi has sent a communication to all stock exchanges in the country on the issue of registration of shares by companies. The provocation for it is obvious – the decision by DCM and Escorts not to register shares bought by the … Read More
President Jayewardene has been candid enough to admit what has been common knowledge about the state of the Sri Lankan armed forces. Asked by a BBC correspondent why government troops drawn from the Sinhalese population had not fired on rioters attacking Tamils and destroying their homes and business, he has … Read More
The Washington Post has carried a report to the effect that a study has been prepared for the top Soviet leadership calling for a fundamental restructuring of the Soviet economy and arguing that its centralized management can no longer ensure the “full and effective use of the society’s intellectual and … Read More
