What s on the Agenda

What's on the Agenda?
Romesh Thapar F, at this moment of writing, atten- ion is focused on the political horse- rading in Maharashtra and the desperate attempts of the local Congress dadas to enter 'coalitions' to protect the all-powerful sugar barons, it will not be for long. Already, the report is strong that the Congress (I) and the CPI (Communist party of Indira) are in conspiratorial communion somehow to rub Kerala's independent- minded chief minister Anthony into the dust. Orders have also gone out to the Congress (I) mafia to encourage confrontations in Uttar Pradesh and are, for Godmother Indira needs a in the North. It is a sad commentary on the political skill of the leaders of the official Congress party and the ruling Janata conglomeration that they are forever reacting to the moves of Indira Gandhi. No independent initiative is attempted to break out of the sorry and familiar perambulations of Indian politics. And, yet, every time there is a flicker of this independent will, the mafia and its Godmother stage a very visible retreat. Witness the tongue-tied Indira Gandhi at her meeting with the Press when it resolved to cross-question her on her lies and falsehoods.