When Indira Gandhi took office as Prime Minister last January, many Indian politicians feared that she might become a mouthpiece for the left-wing policies of onetime Defense Minister and longtime family friend, Vengalil Krishna Menon. In fact, Indira had al ready quietly disowned him. Last week, in the first political attack mounted against Mrs. Gandhi personally, Menon betrayed his anger in a scathing 25-minute parliamentary harangue that showed off all his celebrated talents for sarcasm, snarl and serpentine innuendo.
Menon began by paying apparent tribute to Indira's "great personal success" on her recent trip to the U.S.
"However," he...