This is the front page of The Indian Express published on May 02, 1984.
The military government of President H M Ershad and the 15-party opposition alliance led by Hasina Wajed, president, Awami League, have failed to reach an agreement on the modalities of withdrawal of martial law and transfer of power. The alliance’s demand includes lifting of martial law, return of the army to barracks, holding elections to sovereign parliament before other polls, restoration of democracy and fundamental rights.
Bans Under UAPA
The government has reimposed the ban on the activities of the National Council of Khalistan and the Dal Khalsa and declared the two organisations unlawful. Both organisations had earlier been banned on May 1, 1982 for two years under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Curbs On The Press
Newspapers have been caught in a triple bind of unserviced allocations of imported newsprint by the State Trading Corporation, having to make good the deficit through reliance on high-cost domestic newsprint whose prices have been arbitrarily raised and through a newsprint policy that constricts growth. Together, it constitutes a crippling burden on their strained economies and threatens the freedom of the press.
May Day In Delhi
Lakhs of workers all over the country celebrated May Day by holding meetings, taking out rallies, and expressing their solidarity with workers all over the world. In the Capital, May Day was marked by innumerable processions, taken out by workers carrying red flags. They belonged to different unions, including Centre of Indian Trade Unions, Hind Mazdoor Sabha, All-India Trade Union Congress and others.
