DATE=6/27/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-234665
TITLE=INDIA SANCTIONS (L-OVNT)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN
DATELINE=NEW DELHI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO: INDIA'S RULING BHARATIYA JANATA PARTY, OR B-J-P, SAYS THE 
UNITED STATES AND OTHER COUNTRIES ARE RECONSIDERING THE ECONOMIC 
SANCTIONS THEY IMPOSED FOLLOWING INDIA'S NUCLEAR TESTS IN MAY.  
V-O-A NEW DELHI CORRESPONDENT DOUGLAS BAKSHIAN REPORTS:

TEXT:  AFTER A MEETING OF THE B-J-P AND ITS POLITICAL ALLIES, 
SENIOR PARTY LEADER JASWANT SINGH SAID THE INTERNATIONAL 
COMMUNITY HAS HAD A CHANGE OF ATTITUDE OVER SANCTIONS AGAINST 
INDIA. 

MR. SINGH SAYS FINANCE MINISTER YASHWANT SINHA TOLD THE MEETING 
STATEMENTS FROM U-S PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON AND OTHER U-S LEADERS 
INDICATE THEY ARE RETHINKING THEIR POSITION ON THE MATTER.   

LAST WEEK, U-S SENATE LEADER TRENT LOTT NAMED A TASK FORCE TO 
EXAMINE U-S SANCTIONS POLICY -- IN PARTICULAR, SANCTIONS AGAINST 
INDIA AND PAKISTAN.  AGRICULTURE AND BUSINESS GROUPS HAVE ALSO 
BEEN PRESSURING THE U-S CONGRESS AND THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION 
TO CUT BACK THE USE OF SANCTIONS, SAYING THEY DO  NOT WORK AND 
ONLY MAKE IT EASIER FOR COMPETITORS FROM JAPAN AND EUROPE TO DO 
BUSINESS.  

MR. SINGH SAYS THE RESUMPTION OF WORLD BANK ASSISTANCE IS AN 
INDICATION OF THE CHANGING REALITY IN THE INTERNATIONAL 
SITUATION.  

MR. SINGH'S REMARKS FOLLOWED A MEETING OF THE B-J-P AND ITS 
ALLIED PARTIES TO ASSESS THE GOVERNMENT'S POSITION AFTER ITS 
FIRST 100 DAYS IN OFFICE.  MR. SINGH SAYS THREE IMPORTANT PARTY 
LEADERS WERE  NOT  AT THE MEETING.  THEIR ABSENCE HAD RAISED 
FEARS OF A RIFT WITHIN THE ALLIANCE. 

ONE OF THE LEADERS, JAYARAM JAYALALITHA, HAS BEEN URGING THE 
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO DISMISS A SOUTHERN STATE GOVERNMENT RUN BY 
HER RIVALS.  WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF MS. JAYALALITHA'S PARTY, THE 
B-J-P WOULD LOSES ITS MAJORITY IN PARLIAMENT.  THE B-J-P DEPENDS 
ON THE SUPPORT OF MORE THAN ONE DOZEN SMALLER PARTIES TO MAINTAIN
ITS HOLD ON POWER. (SIGNED)

NEB/DB/TMD/MMK

27-Jun-98 1:40 PM EDT (1740 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.