NEW DELHI-Land Ceiling Talked Out

THE kulak lobby has proved to be stronger and tougher than had been anticipated. It was widely believed, when the meeting of the Central Land Reforms Committee was convened to clarify the position in regard to the application of the ceiling on lands irrigated from private sources, that it would be persuaded to agree to the inclusion of such land within the scope of the ceiling. This was seen as the only way out because of the clear commitment to lowering the land ceiling in the ruling party's election manifesto and the strong objections raised by the radicals in the party to any dilution of this commitment. Indeed, the idea was given currency that the issue had been settled by the central leadership even before the committee had met and that the committee would meet merely to endorse this decision. The absence of the Tamil Nadu Minister from the meeting, on the ground that the Union Government had already taken a decision on the issue before the committee had even met, strengthened this impression. But this was not how things worked out.