Confusion reigns in Indian ruling classes

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Election symbols: Janata; CPI(M); and Congress (I). geoisie in Turkey itselfespecially in the wake of the Iranian revolution and events in Afghanistan.

The balance of power established in the region by imperialism in the post-war period has been profoundly shaken.

The bonapartist threats of the Turkish military are absolutely linked to the main strategy of imperialism.

A week before the declaration, a row erupted between Demirel's Justice Party and the fascist NAP on the one hand and Ecevit's RPP and the religious NSP on the other.

Carter envoy

The cause of the dispute was the visit by an envoy from President Carter, which, according to the RPP-NSP had brought the signing of a secret agreement with the USA • committing Turkey to support US policy in Iran and to join in the new economic and military alliance being worked for by the US imperialists-to include Pakistan, Israel and Egypt.

The NSP argued that to join the Zionist state of Israel in such an alliance would be unacceptable, since it would alienate Turkey from the Muslim world.

The military declaration therefore can be seen as a move to pressurise an alliance beiveen the main bourgeois parties, io produce a united pro-imperialist foreign policy and a united offensive against the Turkish working class.

Alliance

Of course both main parties denied that the declaration was aimed against them. The fascists and right wing claimed it could not be a reproach against the government, since it has only been in office 52 days.

Ecevit, on the other hand, said it could not be a criticism of him, since he has been seeking an alliance with the Justice ces are ignored, the story of the politicians in India today, resemble, most closely, the semi-fantastic goings-on of the TV serial "Soap'.

The government falls in July with a defection. by Charan Singh ostensibly because it is not resolute enough in attacking the Gandhis.

The deposed. PM, Desai, attempts to continue by presenting the President with an entirely fictitious list of would-be supporters in Parliament.

The attempt fails and so Charan Singh lays his own claim to the premiership, by seeking an alliance with none-other than "irreconcilable enemy' Indira Mrs G. agrees-up to the day before the vote of confidence, when she withdraws support!

Charan Singh is thus denied his ambition. But then ta gets it by default, as 'caretaker PM' since no faction could tolerate the interim moves of the President, who decided that he should really be the PM.

Meanwhile, Jagivan Ramerstwhile deputy to Desai is denied his right to premiership. because-so it is said-ne is a harijan ('untouchable' caste).

This fact, however, appears to pose no problem to the substantive alliance which now* forms the rump of the Janata: Party hetween Ram'e failnuare and the Hindu-fascist party, the Jan Sangh-which bases its mobilisations on warfare against the lower castes!.

The Congress Party, not to be left behind, also split into two after Gandhi's election defeat.

But on the basis of an alliance between her and a powerful leader in the South, Deriaj Urs, eclipsed its rival, effectively reunited, but then split into two again because Urs and Gandhi have now fallen out.

And Urs-need one say-has now made an alliance with Charan Singh!

To all this has to be added the part of local chiefdomswho cannot be identified as being in any one camp at any one time-and defections and counter-defections of individuals, at all levels in the hierarchy almost by the hour.

Singh has failed to extend his power-base beyond the North Indian kulaks and will come nff maskact (1) Party-syrr Ram has found no reason for his existence, other than his formal tie with India's 100 million Harijans and his promise to the business community to be a 'super-administrator' (his euphemism for giving them a free hand).

Butcher

However, Gandhi will make sure she gets a foothold in the next government.

Manoeuvring within the state machinery is her forte. Whoever she governs with, her formidable activities in this arena will see her partner soon destroyed.

Path to power

That would be her path to power and fit in with what is demanded by her backers in India's industrial bourgeoisie.

The ruling classes' crisis of leadership is exacerbated by the section demands heav state intervention and funds, 1 allow them profit on grain.

Hoarding

The petit-bourgeoisie oppose state intervention in general, since their fortunes are made in hoarding and distribution of grain-although they do benefit from artificially high wholesale prices.

But the interests of the industrial bourgeoisie are served best by consistent and cheap supplies from the rural section.

These material divisions have expressed themselves in the current political mess and have weakened the ruling classes in the common aim, which is to launch a concerted attack on the working class and poor peasantry.

Achieving this will characterise the next phase of Indian politics, and will be done under the domination of the industrial bourgeoisie.

Gandhi looks most suitable for this task, but only relatively.

Irked

She has irked them in the past by her occasional populist measures, her cumbersome bureaucracy and the suspicionwith the continued vile attendance paid to her vile son Sanjay, that she is more interested in establishing her dynasty rather than theirs.

However, more serious than -b el ..rish war

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'epression New York gold dealers defies A New Year's Day reaffirmation of the determination of the Irish people to defeat British imperialism was offered by a Sinn Fein march through Belfast.

But the last few weeks Wednesday the relative of a republican prisoner. She was held for 84 hours-24 hours of which she was left naked in her cell.

She was assaulted and, on release discovered that her flat had been left in a filthy state by the police raiders.