Interview with the Dalai Lama

was given permission to drop dissident leader Salig Rain from the state ministry. Parmar had insisted on this in the name of ministerial harmony. But soon afterwards, Indira Gandhi provided unmistakable indications of her disapproval of his move to involve her in the controversy. The first step taken by the Council Parliamentary Board towards the political rehabilitation of Salig Ram was to entrust him with the important task of supervising the Congress election campaign in some parts of UP. Parmar's discomfiture knew no bounds wheal, on March 13, Salig Ram was accorded an enthusiastic welcome at a largely attended Simla reception organised by the City Congress Committee. It turned out to be a show of strength between the rival factions. Parmar's old rivals, notably former Home Minister Padam Dev, played a leading rule at the function. Ministers and other pro-Parmar legislators boycotted the reception.