October 21, 1977, Forty Years Ago: Reddy’s Counter

Reddy’s statement comes in the wake of reports from certain states that Mrs Gandhi’s supporters are pressurising AICC members to sign the requisition.

The Congress president, Brahmananda Reddy, deplored as “undignified, unnecessary and inadvisable” the pressure being put by supporters of Indira Gandhi to collect signatures for requisitioning a meeting of the AICC to oust him. The move, Reddy asserted, is against the party constitution and discipline. Reddy’s statement comes in the wake of reports from certain states that Mrs Gandhi’s supporters are pressurising AICC members to sign the requisition. This is also being viewed as a renewed assurance to no-changers as well as uncommitted members in the states that the top leaders, who had been attacked by Mrs Gandhi in her midnight speech at the AICC meeting last Saturday, firmly stood by the commitment to the collective leadership policy.

States’ Consent

The Centre will no longer deploy its police forces in affected areas without the consent of the state government concerned. This decision will have considerable bearing on the future federal relations. It was taken by the Union cabinet in view of the demand by various state governments and the stand the Janata Party itself has officially taken .

Janata On SA Govt

The executive of the Janata Party in Parliament attacked the White South African regime for making mass arrests of black leaders. The statement said: “This anti-people and dictatorial action of the White South African government runs counter to the established ideals of liberty and freedom.”

Dashrath Robbed

Thieves attacked the house of a court clerk in Delhi while he and his son were acting as Raja Dasrath and Bharat at Ramlila. When neighbours told him, he and his son left the stage and rushed to the police stationin costume. Hundreds of spectators followed them to the police station thinking it was part of the performance.