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GV Mrs. Indira Gandhi surrounded by supporters in Ahmedabad


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SV Mrs. Gandhi seated in ornamental chair (2 shots)
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GV supporters seated listening
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SV Mrs. Gandhi seated on stage
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GV Mrs. Gandhi speaking to huge crowd (6 shots)
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GV & SV Mrs. Gandhi's motorcade along street followers waving her on
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Mrs. Gandhi said that she had come to the people, not to seek votes, but to seek their cooperation in making sacrifices for launching a struggle to seek justice for the poor. According to Reuters newsagency, Mrs. Gandhi is once again a leading political force in India. 15 months after she was voted out of power.




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Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: An opinion poll published in New Delhi on Saturday (17 June) said 56 per cent of Indians would like to see Mrs. Gandhi return as Prime Minister. According to the poll people think Mrs. Gandhi's return would bring greater efficiency to the government, better law and order, lower prices and a reduction of corruption in public life. On the same day, the Indian Prime Minister, Morarji Desai, returning from visits to the United States and Europe, said that a prosecute his predecessor for alleged excesses during her 21 month emergency rule. On Sunday (18 June) Mrs. Gandhi visited Mr. Desai's home state of Gujarat and spoke to various groups.

SYNOPSIS: Mrs. Gandhi arrived in Ahmedabad, the capital of Gujarat, to what airport officials called a record crowd. The police had trouble holding back the enthusiastic crowd, hundreds of whom publicised demonstration by the youth wing of the ruling Janata government was much smaller than expected.

Mrs. Gandhi addressed a series of meetings including the women's wing of the Congress and the representatives of trade unions affiliated to the Hind Majdoor Sabha and the Indian National Trade Union Congress. She paid a tribute to the youth of Gujarat and said that they had shown their "mettle" in the past and thus could give a lead to the rest of the country in this regard. Mrs. Gandhi urged the youth to come forward to combat the evils of Communism, casteism and capitalism.

Mrs. Gandhi told her audience only the Congress could eliminate sufferings of the poor. Women, she said, could look forward to her party for elevation of their status. Mrs. Gandhi's motorcade route was changed at the last minute because of violent incidents, in protest of her visit, earlier in the day.