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GV Folk dancers in costume.
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GV Mrs. Gandhi dancing with dancers.(2 shots)
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Background: Indian Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi was seen in a lighter mood on Thursday (29 January) despite the country's recent troubles and the state of emergency she has declared. Folk dancers from all over India called at Mrs. Gandhi's residence in the capital New Delhi - and she danced with some of the groups.

Earlier in the week India celebrated its 27th anniversary as a Republic and ten years of Mrs. Gandhi's rule -- and the Indian leader was able to forget affairs of state for an hour on Thursday as some of the performers dressed her in their traditional costumes and she joined in a couple of the dances.

As Mrs. Gandhi enjoyed the dancers India's parliament was debating a bill giving the government wide powers to prevent publication of material it considers objectionable after the present state of emergency and censorship are lifted.

Information Minister Vidya Charan Shukla accepted an opposition amendment excluding government ministers from the list, but he told the Lok Sabha (Lower House) that those in authority had to be protected from defamation.

Opposition member Sagyangra Sinha said he could not understand why in a parliamentary democracy where the opposition had the right to change the government, people were not to criticise the Prime Minister or members of the government.

The bill was passed by a clear majority.

SYNOPSIS: Folk dancers from all over India gathered in Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi's residence in the capital New Delhi on Thursday.

Mrs. Gandhi was in a lighter mood despite India's recent troubles and the state of emergency the country is still officially under. Earlier in the week India had celebrated its twenty-seventh anniversary as a Republic and ten years of Mrs. Gandhi's rule. As Mrs. Gandhi enjoyed the dancers India's parliament was debating a bill giving the government wide powers to prevent publication of objectionable material after the present state of emergency and censorship are lifted.

Information Minister Vidya Charan Shukla accepted an opposition amendment excluding Mrs. Gandhi and government ministers, but he told the Lok Sabha, or Lower House, that those in authority had to be protected from defamation. Opposition member Sagyangra Sinha said he could not understand why in a parliamentary democracy where the opposition had the right to change the government, people were not to criticise the Prime Minister or members of the government. The bill was passed by a clear majority -- but for Mrs. Gandhi the folk dancers' visit on Thursday gave a rare chance to take an hour off from affairs of state and join in the dancing.