INDIA: PRIME MINISTER INDIRA GANDHI TELLS RALLY OF SUPPORTERS OPPOSITION IS DETERMINED TO SEEK HER DOWNFALL.

Record ID: 214914

  • Title: INDIA: PRIME MINISTER INDIRA GANDHI TELLS RALLY OF SUPPORTERS OPPOSITION IS DETERMINED TO SEEK HER DOWNFALL.
  • Date: 21st June 1975
  • Summary: 1. GV Demonstrators marching along road chanting slogans 0.11 2. SV Demonstrators carrying banners with portrait of Mrs. Gandhi, and crowds arriving at rally venue (2 shots) 0.22 3. SV Armed police 0.27 4. SV Mrs. Gandhi arrives accompanied by Congress President and walks to rostrum (2 shots) 0.35 5. GV Police controlling crowd 0.45
  • Embargoed: 6th July 1975 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: DELHI, INDIA
  • Country: India
  • Reuters ID: LVA78ZFOS5PKG354D7YGWGPN3GDQ
  • Story Text: Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, fighting for her political life, told a rally of the Congress Party on Friday that she is the target of a conspiracy to force her out of office or kill her. The giant rally was a measure of the tremendous support she has mustered in her dispute with the courts over her right to remain Prime Minister.

    An Allahabad High Court ruled that she was guilty on tow counts of corrupt election practices and could no longer remain in office. She is appealing against the decision and her lawyers have obtained Supreme Court agreement to hear her appeal on Monday, 23 June.

    In Friday's rally, Mrs. Gandhi said opposition parties were out to create disruption, disunity and instability and that the opposition attacks on her would not be tolerated in any other country.

    The audience, estimated at between 200.000 and I, 500,000 people filled the lush lawns of the Boat Club in Delhi, often picnicking as they distend to the Prime Minster's 80-minute address. Although police were present, no problems were reported.

    That wasn't the case elsewhere in India, however. According to the Pakistan Times, in India-held Kashmir 200 persons were injured in a clash with police. They were among those demonstrating against Mrs. Gandhi and demanding her resignation. Injuries reportedly resulted from charges by police swinging batons and throwing tear gas.

    SYNOPSIS: Thousands marched in Delhi, the capital of India, in support of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on Friday...a measure of the support she has mustered in her dispute with the Allahabad High Court. The court ruled that she was guilty of corrupt election practices and must step down as Prime Minister.

    The Congress Party organised the Solidarity Rally...and its President guided Mrs. Gandhi to the rostrum. More than two-hundred-thousand people were present.

    Although many police were present, there were no reports of violence...although there were reports in the Pakistani press of demonstrations against Mrs. Gandhi in India-held Kashmir in which two hundred persons were injured
    The audience, sprawling on the grass of the Boat Club near the India Gate heard Mrs. Gandhi say that there was a conspiracy to remove her from office or kill her. She said unnamed big forces were behind the conspiracy and would not be content with only character assassination. But she said even if she were finished, she was sure the Indian people would continue her programmes.
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