This is the front page of The Indian Express published on October 12, 1984, Forty Years Ago.
Prime Minister Indira Gandhi expressed concern over the continuing US military aid to Pakistan despite its professed anxiety over the proliferation of nuclear weapons and “in spite of the evidence compiled by the Americans themselves”. The PM said Pakistan’s nuclear programme was “a qualitatively new phenomenon in our security environment”. She wanted the army to note “a pattern of collaboration”.
BJP with NDA
The Bharatiya Janata Party by and large favoured its continuance in the 14-month-old National Democratic Alliance and proposed to vigorously pursue seat arrangements with other parties for the next Lok Sabha election. A conclusion to this effect emerged after the conclusion of the two-day meeting of the party’s national executive. The survey disapproved of the “policies of aggregation”, an obvious reference to BJP’s ally, the Lok Dal.
More arms recovered
Live as well as fixed weapons which are remnants of the Army action against the militants in the Golden Temple in June, continue to be fished out of the Sarovar, which is being emptied for “kar seva”. Among the items recovered by kar seva volunteers were one tommy gun, one hand grenade and a fired ten pounder shell. A few gold pieces were also recovered.
Ban on Tamil fishers
The Sri Lankan government has decided to forbid Tamil fishermen from going to the sea at night in selected Northern areas. The information available in New Delhi suggests that Colombo’s decision is already being implemented in the Gurunagar area where fishermen go to the sea to catch fish at 4 pm and return only at 4 the next morning. The Tamil United Liberation Front leaders fear that the decision can affect nearly two lakh fishermen.
