Foreign Policy of the Janata Party Government

Abstract

the foreign policy of the new Janata Party government began to emerge within a few weeks of assuming power in India in March 1977. party's election manifesto had been extremely vague on foreign policy. The Janata Party's foreign policy, it said, reflect the nation's enlightened interest and its aspirations and priorities at home. It will oppose all forms of colonialism, neocolonialism, and racialism. It stands for friendship for all. During the election campaign, Morarji Desai left no doubt as to what he thought of Indira Gandhi's practice of nonalignment. Her father never became subservient to anybody, but she has done so. When she signed a treaty with Russia and not one with America also, this was not proper.' He emphasized that he would not abrogate the Soviet treaty, but only alter the special relationship which it reflected to true nonalignment. Opinion in the Janata Party was divided on this subject; and its General Secretary, Surendra Mohan, reacted to reports that Desai had advocated annulment of the treaty by expressing himself in favor of perpetuating it. India's relations with the Soviet Union must not be affected no matter which party came to power. But Mohan belonged to the Socialist Party. other constituent parties of the Janata, most notably the pro-Hindu, right-wing Jan Sangh, had a different outlook on foreign policy-and one which was radically opposed to the Congress Party. As it happened, Prime Minister Desai assigned the portfolio of External Affairs to one of the Jan Sangh's most articulate critics of the