This is the front page of The Indian Express published on July 5, 1984, Forty Years Ago.
PRO FAROOQ LEGISLATORS of Jammu and Kashmir plan to resign en masse from the state assembly. P L Handoo, former law and revenue minister said that the move would force Governor Jagmohan to order fresh elections in the state. Party sources place the number of MLAs loyal to Farooq Abdullah at 38, including the speaker of the
75-member assembly.
PM Criticised
THE JANATA PARTY president, Chandra Shekhar, said that the Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, was trying to “share power with the Army.” He remarked that the Prime Minister had not learnt any lesson after returning to power after the Emergency. He stated that Indira Gandhi had deeper designs than her actions revealed. There was no doubt that she was turning into a true fascist.
Militants’ Links
SEVERAL MILITANT ORGANISATIONS with foreign links were operating from the Golden Temple complex before the Army action. Their objective was to create an independent “Khalistan” by spreading communal strife through violent means. The White Paper, proposed to be issued by the Government due to the Army action in Punjab, contains a graphic account of the activities of these organisations and their foreign connections.
Mumbai Dons Held
UNDERWORLD DONS AND 14 other anti-social elements were detained by the Mumbai police under the National Security Act for being allegedly involved in inciting communal riots. Haji Mastan Mirza and Karim Khan Sher Khan alias Karim Lala were arrested. Investigations had led to the office of the All India Mill Secretariat at Dongri, a “social service” organisation founded by Haji Mastan.
