The two teams and officials were introduced to the President. But Zia made it pretty obvious that he had come especially for Gavaskar.
US Assures India
India has received limited assurances from the United States on recent developments vis-a-vis Pakistan’s search for US arms, following talks between the Indian ambassador K S Bajpai, the US Assistant Secretary of State, Richard Murphy, and other officials at various levels. The US has reiterated that it is not giving any nuclear umbrella to Pakistan, nor does it seek a NATO-type relationship with Pakistan.
PM On Opposition
Prime Minister Indira Gandhi lambasted opposition parties for accusing her of raising the “bogey” of external dangers to divert the people’s attention from problems facing the country. Addressing the fourth national rally of the Congress-1 Seva Dal in the uniform of a “sevika”, Mrs Gandhi explained that at no time had she said there would be a war.
Gavaskar’s 100th Test
Pakistan President Gen Zia-ul-Haq kept his promise to India’s captain Sunil Gavaskar that he would be here to watch the latter’s 100th Test. The two teams and officials were introduced to the President. But Zia made it pretty obvious that he had come especially for Gavaskar. He presented the master batsman with a silver salver on behalf of the Board of Control for Cricket in Pakistan.
Janata-Lok Dal merger
Three Janata Party leaders — Karpoori Thakur from Bihar, Devi Lal from Haryana and Kumbha Ram Arya from Rajasthan — launched an attack on opponents of their move for merger of the Janata Party and the Lok Dal and branded them as Congress (I) agents. Lauding Lok Dal president Charan Singh’s conciliatory approach towards their merger efforts, the leaders said “some elements of the Congress (I) within the Janata Party and outside are sabotaging unity efforts.”
