This is the front page of The Indian Express published on October 04, 1984, Forty Years Ago.
There is no possibility of popular rule being restored in Punjab this month, according to authoritative sources. The present one-year term of President’s rule in Punjab expires on October 5. It is being extended by another six months. However, depending upon the law and order situation in the state, this aspect will be studied next month.
Akalis In A Fix
The Akali leadership finds itself in a dilemma. It does not know what course of action it should adopt in Punjab now. With senior party leaders under detention, the second rung leaders have informally discussed at different levels the question of the party’s future line of action.
Zia Formula Rejected
Pakistan’s opposition parties rejected a formula designed to secure their support to Gen Ziaul Haq’s rule for another five years in exchange for being allowed to participate in the elections promised by him. Under the formula suggested by a faction of the Muslim League, which supports Haq, parties would not only propose him for presidentship but also support him in office for five more years. Opposition leaders, living-in-exile in London, see it as a move inspired by the military regime to create confusion among people.
India-UN Talks
The leader of the Indian delegation to the General Assembly, G Parthasarathy, and the UN Secretary General, Perez de Cuellar, held talks on the international situation and issues facing the current Assembly. They welcomed the dialogue initiated at recent meetings between leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union. Cuellar expressed that a great deal would depend on how contact was followed up after US Presidential elections.
