Gandhi tightens grip on power

Press, 21 February 1980, Page 6

Gandhi tightens grip on power

NZPA-Reuter New Delhi Indian Opposition leaders moved towards a joint strategy yesterday to beat back a bold effort by the Prime Minister (Mrs Indira Gandhi) to consolidate her power in what some commentators called a throwback to emergency rule. At the same time, Mrs Gandhi’s Critics stepped up their attacks on the latest political manoeuvre, calling it a threat to democracy, a bid to throttle dissent, and a first step toward dictatorship. One said Mrs Gandhi’s Government had thrown all moral, political, and constitutional scruples to the winds. In the Rajya Sabha (Upper House), the Opposition Leader (Mr L. K. Advani) denounced as constitutionally wrong and politically immoral the Gandhi Governmant move, which dissolved nine state assemblies on Sunday and brought them under central control pending fresh elections.

The move, widely expected since Mrs Gandhi's return to power last month after , nearly three years in, opposition, was aimed at giving her ruling Congress (Indira Party) the chance to repeat its nation-wide success at the local level in a development that would lead to stronger central rule. The presidential proclamation dissolving the nine key opposition-ruled state legislatures and state governments was the latest in moves that have led to fears of a return to the author- . itarianism that backed and brought down Mrs Gandhi’s last government in 1977. The other moves include • the abolition of the special courts set up by the Janata Government to try leaders accused of abuse of power during the 20-month Emergency, as well as a string of political appointments that reflect a determination to concentrate power around herself and her son Sanjay, ■■ aged 33.