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Opinion April 9, 1985, Forty Years Ago: Punjab standoff

This is the front page of The Indian Express published on April 09, 1985.

April 9, 2025 07:02 AM IST First published on: Apr 9, 2025 at 06:59 AM IST

If the latest postures of the Akalis and the government are any indication, both seem to be heading towards greater confrontation despite the desire professed by both sides that they want an early settlement of the Punjab issue. The situation in the state is deteriorating day by day. Those who have talked to Harchand Longowal say that he is very bitter and doubts the government’s intentions after President Zail Singh distributed awards to Army men for bravery during Blue Star.

Price of sweets

The prices of all milk-based sweets, as well as coffee and tea, will go up in a day or two, as a result of the hike in the price of sugar, DMS and Mother Dairy milk, and LPG cooking gas. According to sweet shop owners, the prices of milk-based sweets are likely to go up by 50 paise to Rs 1.50 per kg. Most of them said they did not use either DMS or Mother Dairy milk, “because the quality of milk supplied by privately run dairies was better suited for the manufacture of khoya”. However, whenever government-run dairies hiked prices, private suppliers followed suit.

Sudan coup

The ousted Sudanese president, Gaafar Nimeiry, sent a message of support to his successor General Abdel Rahman Swar al-Dahab, saying he understood the circumstances which led to his takeover of power. Nimeiry, staying in Cairo since his overthrow in an apparently bloodless coup, said,“As a simple Sudanese citizen, I will continue to serve Sudan and I wish you success in preserving its unity against conspirators”.

Worker kidnapped

An Indian worker was kidnapped by Bangladeshi miscreants from Matai under Belonia subdivision in South Tripura . Sources said the Bangladeshi criminals had crossed the border and kidnapped Tapan Baidya, who was working in a coconut garden.