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<text id=89TT2354>
<title>
Sep. 11, 1989: World Notes:India
</title>
<history>
TIME--The Weekly Newsmagazine--1989
Sep. 11, 1989 The Lonely War:Drugs
</history>
<article>
<source>Time Magazine</source>
<hdr>
WORLD, Page 51
World Notes
INDIA
Pulling the Plug On Gandhi
</hdr><body>
<p> Civil servants were cowed by government edict into turning
up for work, but most of India's labor force stayed away, as
opposition parties held a daylong general strike last week to
demand the resignation of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. Almost
all factories and shops were closed, and travel was brought to
a near halt across the country. The arrests of tens of thousands
limited violence, but twelve people died as rival political
groups clashed with one another and the police. The strike was
intended to show just how disenchanted Indians are with a leader
once dubbed "Mr. Clean." Gloated V.P. Singh, Gandhi's main
challenger: "We have come out winners."
</p>
<p> The Bharat Bandh (Close India) strike was the opposition's
second major action this summer against the Prime Minister. In
July 104 members of Parliament resigned to protest an a-lleged
$50 million government kickback scheme in a $1.3 billion
purchase of Swedish arms for the Indian army. Gandhi is not
likely to step down before the general elections expected in
December. But most observers see the mudslinging as the start
of a dirty and bitter campaign.
</p>
</body></article>
</text>