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India coalition faces new threat.

Thursday, November 20, 1997 Published at 13:09 GMT

India coalition faces new threat.
The government of India is under threat of collapse because of a bitter dispute between one of the coalition partners, a regional party, DMK, and the Congress Party. Congress is not part of the coalition but its votes help to maintain in office the prime minister of the United Front government, I K Gujral. The row blew up after reports emerged of the official inquiry into the assassination, six years ago, of the former Congress prime minister, Rajiv Gandhi. Indians believe he was killed by Sri Lankan Tamil Tiger guerrillas; the report, now submitted to parliament, says the DMK party had links with the Tigers and, even after the attack, failed to break with them. Congress says the party must leave the coalition within three days or it will withdraw support.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service

Summaries

In this section

United Front coalition government in India under threat.
Constitutional crisis in Pakistan deepens
Car bomb kills 23 at Indian film studio
First Indian astronaut goes into space
Colombo says leading Tigers captured.
Arafat in India seeks support.

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