ISSN (Print) - 0012-9976 | ISSN (Online) - 2349-8846

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After the Presidential Election

The political repercussions of the Presidential election will be greater than the stakes involved in the contest. Thatis primarily the reason why the issue was joined so squarely by both sides. It resembled a key by-election which, with- out numerically upsetting the parliamentary balance of power, would nevertheless determine a trend.

Decentralisation in Jammu and Kashmir

how do we go about it? His proposal for a "substantial increase" in the expenditures on R and D sounds almost like an anti-climax. The problems here is much more than one of financial allocation.

From Independence to Political Settlement

From Independence to Political Settlement G S Bhargava THE Prime Minister's current tour of Western countries marks another phase in India's diplomatic efforts to find a 'political' solution to the Bangla Desh crisis. II some Indian political commentators are to be believed, everything now hinges on President Nixon. He has only to .snap his fingers, plug the built-in loopholes in the US Administration's suspension of military supplies to Pakistan, go along with the other members of the Aid Pakistan Consortium in re- !using credits to that country and publicly admonish the Yahya regime for its brutalities in Bangla Desh. Cumulatively these steps are expected to chasten Yahya Khan to .such an extent that he will at once release Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and begin negotiations with him lor 'a political solution acceptable to the elected representatives of East Bengal'. And so Bangla Desh will come into being, the refugees will troop back, the Mukti Bahini will be reintegrated into die country's defence forces and everyone will be happy ever alter.

Options Muffed

Options Muffed G S Bhargava THE External Affairs Minister statement in Parliament on the Sino-Soviet border clashes and the sharp reaction it evoked from Peking have eliminated the chances, if there were any, of normalisation of Sino-Indian relations. Ever since the Prime Minister indicated, at her New Year Day press conference, India's willingness to negotiate with China without any preconditions on either side, there was speculation, if not hope, of a dialogue with China. We were scanning the horizon for reciprocal hints from Peking. The presence of Chinese diplomats at receptions in Kathmandu and Rangoon for the President and the Prime Minister was noted and even commented upon as a likely straw in (he wind. Now the slate has been wiped clean and our relations with China seem to have reverted to the state in which they were

South-East Asian Security

ciples unanimously agreed upon in the legislators' accord of January 19. Clarifications were given by the State Government on various points he raised

Soviet Arms and Assurances

Soviet Arms and Assurances G S Bhargava HISTORY seems to be repeating itself. In 1954 when the United States started arming Pakistan, there was consternation in India because an arms race with Pakistan was both unwelcome and undesirable, though it did become unavoidable. With the memory of Partition still fresh in people's minds, there was a genuine feeling that the US was helping an enemy.

A Non-Policy on Non-Proliferation

all. Expenditure on it has been Rs 1.81 crores against the provision of Rs 2.87 crores and against the target of 4,73 lakh acres only 2.24 lakh acres have been covered.

A Balanced China Policy

successful in his bid for foreign affairs he might be satisfied with the Defence Ministry

Poor Organisation to Blame for Congress Debacle

ly negative votes. Factional quarrels within the Congress were also responsible for the party's electoral setbacks. The new leadership of the State Congress will have to contend with more than one non-Congress Government in neighbouring States. So the Congress Govero- ment in Assam entering an era of competition; the next five years will be crucial for it.

The Story Remains Untold

The Story Remains Untold G S Bhargava The Untold Story, by B K Kaul; Allied Publisiiers, New Delhi, pp 495, Rs 20.
THE MAIN ATTRACTION of B K Kaul's book was that it might provide the inside story of the 1962 debacle against the Chinese since Kaul had something to do with the country's defence preparations in those days. The advertisement of the book as a personal explanation whetted this expectation. But after wading through 495 pages the reader is disappointed. The reason is obvious. Kaul's acquaintance with the battles that took place was extremely limited. He was made Corps Commander at Tezpur on October 4, 1962 and returned to a New Delhi nursing home exactly a fortnight later for treatment of what was then officially stated to be bronchitis (though Kaul now says it was a more complicated and serious ailment). He returned to Tezpur on October 29 and stayed there until November 25, four days after the cease-fire.

India and Non-Proliferation Treaty

G S Bhargava How should India react to the latest Chinese test of a guided missile with a nuclear warhead?
The simplest and most popular answer will be that we should give up our present policy of developing nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and decide to make the bomb. On the face of it considerations of security also suggest such a shift in policy because if China, ahead of Western calculations of its progress in nuclear and missile technology, has now achieved an intermediate range of up to 1,500 miles for its missile system, it will not be long before our cities will be sitting ducks for its nuclear warheads.

The Ills of the Indian Foreign Service

G S Bhargava "Parliament never, and Government scarcely ever, seem to consider means when considering policy". The observation is particularly relevant to the Indian Foreign Service.

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