1.
GV Election Commission building (2 shots)
0.08

2.
SV Interior Communist delegate Bhupesh Gupta
0.14

3.
SV Akali party representative
0.18

4.
SV Janata party representative
0.21

5.
SV Indian National Congress party
0.26

6.
SV Communist party delegates (2 shots)
0.43

7.
GV Peasant and Workers Party representative
0.48

8.
SV Janata Party representative
0.53

9.
GV Delegates at table
1.01

10.
SV Interior Congress Party receiving garland as audience watches (2 shots)
1.17

11.
SV Mrs. Gandhi speaking in English
1.44


GANDHI: "I would like to say a word and in this group were included those people -- sometimes gunmen, sometimes other elements -- who had taken an active part in destroying the democracy in Asia, in Africa and Latin America. Even to the extent of doing away physically with elected leaders."




Initials IM/



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi opened her Congress party conference on Thursday (13 September) with a strong attack on the former Janata government, accusing it of incompetence, corruption and indifference to national problems. Her speech was delivered at a time when opinion polls for the forthcoming mid-term general elections show her in the lead. Meanwhile, the Chief Election Commissioner, Mr. E.L. Shakdher was discussing the elections with representatives of all major political parties.

SYNOPSIS: The meeting at the election commission was attended by politicians o all parties. Their aim was to lay the groundwork for India's mid-term elections. Delegates discussed the question of financing the election campaign and agreed on a code of conduct during the election period.

A leading role in the election will be played by the Janata Party and India's National Congress Party. Last year a faction of the National Congress broke away from Mrs. Gandhi's leadership to form the Official Congress which has now confirmed its election alliance with the Janata and approved a common manifesto.

Mrs. Gandhi called the pact suicide for the Official Congress. She dismissed the breakaway faction as "a small Rump", a contemptible remnant of parliament. The Party itself hit out hard against the Janata. Also a statement said India had lost its leading position of respectability and moral authority under two and a half years of Janata rule. Even in the Non-Aligned movement -- it went on -- India had come to play the role of a back bencher. Mrs. Gandhi received overwhelming support from her party for her attacks.