The Planning Commission, it is understood, is in a serious dilemma over the question of bringing out the midterm appraisal of the Sixth Plan, despite assurance to this effect to Parliament. It has been found that because of inflation and the state’s inability to raise additional resources, there has been such a severe shortfall in the plan targets that the publication of the facts might embarrass the government. The shortfalls are so severe, particularly in the core sector, that the split over from the Sixth Plan might even affect the size of the Seventh Plan and the government’s strategy.
The Shiromani Akali Dal has decided to hold a joint meeting of all national opposition parties in Amritsar to explain the party’s stand vis-a-vis its long-standing demands. The exact date of the meeting will be finalised after consulting party president, Harchand Singh Longowal.
How brutal can the police be, especially when it has the support of officials? Nearly 100 villagers with broken limbs and bruised bodies were lying in the police station in Jehanabad in Bihar. They were members of the Majdoor Kisan Sangram Samiti, an organisation fighting for social and economic justice for the poor labourers and kisans.
Sixty-three students of the Jawaharlal Nehru University have escaped from Tihar jail where they were lodged after being arrested during the violence on the campus. The biggest escape from Tihar jail was discovered by jail authorities only two to three days later. The 63 students, all boys, escaped around the same time as the four girls who were discovered to have escaped from the main Tihar jail.
