Articles by Sumanta Banerjee

to worsening industrial relations in the steel industry.
The objectionable manner of functioning of the SAIL management is further highlighted by yet another incident. This took place at the level of the SAIL board itself and concerns the meeting of the reconstituted board in April last. Here one need not go into the composition of the new board with the preponderance of bureaucrats and personalities from the private sector who really deserve no place in the board. The incident in question concerns the Vizag and Vijayanagram steel plants which have become a big embarrassment for the government as well as SAIL. The government is politically committed to building these plants. On the other hand, there are the questions about the economic viability of the plants and their cost. When the issue was discussed the SAIL board took the clear-cut position that it was not possible to go ahead with their construction at this stage. But in view of the political commitment, it was agreed that a proper assessment of steel demand and a study of the product-mix of the two plants be undertaken. It was also made clear that SAIL would go solely by tech no- economic considerations. If the government desired that certain overriding political considerations must prevail it could have its way, but in that case it must give a clear directive to the SAIL board.


ministry excluding its present incumbents.
Barely a month before the Congress decided on contesting the Dindigul seat, its political conference (held at Dindigul) called for a third front in the state, to fight both the Congress(O) and the DMK. There was no more hope of a rapprochement with Kamaraj and the the Congress(O) and the ruling party at the Centre had decided to take the initiative for a new strategy. The obvious allies in the third front were to be the ADMK and the CPI. But as events proved, the front was a non- starter. The Congress thought that as the sponsor of the front, it would be its leader and qualify for the unconditional support of the two allies at the Dindigul by-election. Any compromise at Dindigul would deprive it of yet another chance to assert its identity and to attempt building an independent mass base.


powers and depend upon them for aid


tional monarchy but that the "King's dictatorial policy and his reluctance to transfer power to the people are proving a great hindrance to the evolution of constitutional monarchy in Nepal. After all, the King has to play his part honestly for the success of constitutional monarchy. Then there is another question connected with this issue, viz, the question of sovereignty. I am a believer in the principle of popular sovereignty. The principle of kingship must be subordinated to the principle of sovereignty of the people.'' Koirala was saying, in effect, that the King was not prepared to accept the principle of sovereignty of the people

after four revisions involving the putting off of completion of the project by over three years compared to the original schedule, is not likely to be kept. Considering the importance of this giant project and the huge funds committed to it, this is nothing short of tragic.