40 years ago October 7, 1986: PM optimistic on Punjab

On October 7, 1986, Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi expressed optimism about the current state of Punjab. Despite a recent assassination attempt on his life and that of J F Ribeiro, he noted that the level of terrorism in the region had never been lower. Gandhi attributed the terrorist attacks to the group's attempts to improve their own public image.

The Prime Minister discussed the security challenges with Home Minister Buta Singh and senior officials, as well as during a meeting of the Political Affairs Committee of the cabinet, focusing on security lapses concerning top political leaders and senior officials in sensitive positions. Additionally, Indian heavyweight boxer Daljit Singh was stripped of his silver medal following a positive doping test at the Asian Games in Seoul, where the medal was ultimately awarded to Pakistan's Kausar Abbas.

Meanwhile, India and Jordan voiced their concerns and regrets regarding the ongoing Iran-Iraq war and stressed the urgent need for its conclusion, with President Zail Singh and Jordanian King Hussein reaffirming their support for the Palestinian struggle led by the Palestinian Liberation Organisation.