Trouble Ahead

THE confusions and ambiguities of the 'official' reaction to the death of Sanjay Gandhi in tragic circumstances only highlight the reality of the actual position he occupied in Indian politics. The Lok Sabha duly and correctly adjourned for the day since after all he was a sitting member of the lower house; but the Rajya Sabha too adjourned even though there was no 'official' reason for it to do so, and many state governments too declared 'state mourning'. Nothing illustrated this contradiction than the 'official' reaction to the death, of former President, V V Giri, the following day