News In Brief

Indian Cabinet shuffle shifts official involved in Sikh issue

Prime Minister Indira Gandhi reshuffled her Cabinet Thursday, taking over the External Affairs Ministry and shifting the minister responsible for law and order, including the fight against Sikh extremists.

The government shuffle, six months before general elections, came in the midst of political turmoil over Sikh extremist violence in Punjab State and communal tension in Jammu and Kashmir States.

An official statement said Home (Interior) Minister P. C. Sethi, who had been responsible for law and order, had been appointed planning minister. Narasimha Rao, external affairs minister since Mrs. Gandhi returned to power in 1980, takes over the home ministry.