12-08-2025
August 12, 1985, Forty Years Ago: Punjab poll decision
The government will take a political decision some time this week on the holding of elections in Punjab and whether this should be done by the end of September before the expiry of President's Rule in the state on October 5 or in early December. Indications so far are for an early poll. In the Akali Dal, a section led by Balwant Singh is in favour of an early poll while two stalwarts Parkash Singh Badal and G S Tohra want it to be delayed for some time. In the Congress (I) at the high command level, opinion is still divided, too.
Hope in Assam
While Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi arrived in Guwahati for the first time since he took office, a five-member joint delegation of AASU-AAGSP reached Delhi to participate in the crucial round of talks to resolve the foreign nationals problem in the state. Though the PM is in the city for the centenary celebrations of the Congress (I), the speculation is that he is going to announce a package of programmes for faster development of the state. The agitation leaders have not given a bandh call so far.
Strife in Durban
A peace rally attended by a handful of Indians and thousands of chanting Zulus with spears, shields and guns broke up in chaos as racial strife continued to rage in this township north of Durban. At least 65 have died in a week of bloodshed and anarchy in which Indians have been driven from their homes and rival Blackpolitical groups have dashed. Hospital officials said the death toll had risen by another 10 overnight but police said the townships around Durban were relatively calm.
Union Carbide leak
At least 100 people were injured when toxic fumes from a Union Carbide pesticide plant in West Virginia leaked into the atmosphere, local officials said. The officials said the fumes contained the gas methyl isocyanate (MIC), which killed more than 2,500 people in Bhopal. Kent Carper, director of emergency services at nearby Charleston said eight workers inside the plant had been the hardest hit.
