India and the Soviet Union

At a Press conference held soon after assuming office as Prime Minister on 24 March 1977, Morarji R. Desai said that his Government would follow a policy of “proper non-alignment†. He also said that his Government would not wish to have any “special†relations with any one country. Obviously he had the Soviet Union in mind when he made this observation; for it is often asserted that the 20-year Treaty of Peace, Friendship, and Co-operation between India and the Soviet Union signed in August 1971 had established “special†relations between the two countries. Commenting on this treaty, the new Prime Minister said that if it meant that India should not have friendship with other countries, then it would have to change. “At least we will not act upon it in that manner.†1 Again, four days later, addressing the first joint session of the sixth Parliament, the Acting President stated that the new Government would “follow a path of genuine non-alignment†. This article is an attempt to explain what led to the establishment of “special†relations, why there were hints about a change in these relations when those whom Indira Gandhi had jailed replaced her in office in March 1977, and what actually happened thereafter. It is also an attempt to explain why the Janata Government continued the policy of friendship with the Soviet Union and to assess the elements of continuity and change in Indo-Soviet relations.