The former Union minister, Surjit Singh Barnala, was on Sunday elected acting president of the Akali Dal (Longowal) at a crucial meeting which committed the party to “every word” of the Punjab accord. The meeting of the Akali Dal’s 18 district jathedars and seven state unit presidents, however, struck a compromise by accommodating the rival claimant for the post, Ajit Singh, as chairman of the party’s parliamentary board.
Against Apartheid
India and Tanzania condemned the “atrocities and machinations” of South Africa’s racist regime, out to suppress its struggling Black majority. The statement by President Zail Singh and the visiting Tanzanian President, Julius K Nyerere, came at a state banquet here. Nyerere recalled India’s economic and political support for the South African and Namibian independence movements and said that New Delhi’s voice had always been “clear and uncompromising” on these issues.
DMK Plans Protest
Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and Union Home Minister S B Chavan will be greeted with black flags whenever they visit Tamil Nadu, the Tamil Eelam Supporters’ Organisation has announced. DMK president M Karunanidhi, chairman of TESO, announcing this at the end of a massive rally in Madras protesting against the deportation of three Tamil Eelam leaders, said the demonstrations would continue till the three were allowed to return to India.
Radio Silence
All India Radio boycotted the public question and answer session with Karnataka’s Minister for Medium and Major Industry, J H Patel, organised by the state department. The boycott is believed to have been in retaliation for state ministers’ criticism of Union Deputy Finance Minister Janardhana Poojary’s loan melas. AIR is believed to have received instructions not to cover Karnataka ministers’ programmes. Normally, the Akashvani crew covers even minor village events.
