Opinion June 3, 1983, Forty Years Ago: Morarji Desai in CIA

Former Indian Prime Minister Morarji Desai received $20,000 annually during the 1960s and possibly even later from the American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), according to a forthcoming book by an American investigative reporter. Quoting a source in the US intelligence community, Seymour M Hersh, formerly of the New York Times, says in the book that the money was paid to Desai for information he regularly supplied to the CIA. The source, who Hersh does not name in the book, characterised Desai as a “star performer”. Morarji Desai described as “sheer madness” a report that he had worked as a paid agent of the US CIA while serving in the Indian Cabinet.

Centre-Akali Talks

The next round of talks between the Centre and the Akalis is likely to take place in another bid to “resolve the Punjab issue”. Some senior Akali leaders are in Jammu and Kashmir at present canvassing for the National Conference and are expected back in Amritsar by the weekend. The Akalis may depute the same delegation which participated in the previous talks. As soon as the date is finalised the Centre will ask Haryana Chief Minister Bhajan Lal to be present.

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Indo-Pak Commission

The four sub-commissions set up by the Indo-Pak Joint Commission reported agreement in some areas of cooperation. But they seemed to have made little headway in regard to trade. Pakistan has agreed to recommend a 23 per cent reduction in postal rates for letters and book posts and postcards by surface mail and 15 per cent reduction in other mail. India has agreed to make a similar 15 per cent cut.