NEW DELHI: Police fired tear gas today [July 5] to break up a street battle between supporters and opponents of the peace agreement signed … by Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Cadres of Prime Minister’s Congress Party clashed with supporters of the Right-wing Hindu nationalist Jana Sangh, heaping abuse and stones at each other until Police intervened. “Indira Gandhi Hai Hai” shouted the Jana Sanghis. “Indira Gandhi Zindabad” the Congress workers retaliated.

The clash broke after two busloads of Congress Party members arrived in front of the Jana Sangh office to protest the Party’s opposition to the Simla Pact. About 3,000 Jana Sanghis had lined up in front of its office to guard it from the Congress demonstration.

The Jana Sangh President, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, has branded the Simla Pact a “sell-out” because India agreed to return about 5,000 square miles of territory to Pakistan, although there was no settlement of the Kashmir dispute. Mr Vajpayee, a member of Parliament and a severe critic of Mrs Gandhi, has called for nationwide protests against the agreement. — News agencies

Published in Dawn, July 6th, 2022