From 50 Years Ago: Nehru's Task in Kerala

Matters are fast coming to a head in Kerala. Whether or not the current crisis will culmi-nate in tragedy will depend largely on how the Congress High Command thinks and acts in the next few days. While the Congress Parlia-mentary Committee is yet to meet to discuss the Kerala situation, it is reliably learnt that there is some sharp difference of opinion among top Congress leaders here with regard to the Kerala agitation in general and the role of the State Congress in it in particular. One i nfluential group, it is understood, has been consistently pressing for the adoption of a “tough” line towards the Kerala Government. This group is reported to be opposed to any move to advise the KPCC to withdraw from the “Direct Action” or to default on its commit-ments with the ridiculously-named Vimochana Samara Samiti (“Liberation Struggle Front”!). It is said to have urged the Kerala Congress to “go all out” to dislodge the Communist Minis-try and led them to believe that they would be “backed up” by the High Command.

Company Note: Larsen & Toubro