All promise support to Mrs. Gandhi
From our Special Correspondent, NEW DELHI Dec. 4.-The CPI National Council today announced that it would spare no effort to mobilise people and resources for defence.
In a statement the council expressed the party’s firms solidarity with “our valiant armed forces who are so gallantly repulsing the attack of the aggressor”.
The party wanted the prices of essential commodities controlled, the wholesale trade in foodgrains nationalised and ruthless measures taken against hoarders and other anti-social elements.
Asking for effective steps to free India of its dependence on imperialism and to make it self-reliant, the Council said the IndoSoviet treaty was a powerful instrument to realise this objective.
It called upon the Government to use the emergency powers against the enemies of the nation and to ensure to the people their rights and democratic liberties so that they could fulfil their role in national defence.
“At this hour of crisis” said the National Council our people attach supreme importance to the friendship of the great Soviet Union. The historic Indo-Soviet treaty which symbolises this friendship, stands as a shield against the imperialist inspired aggression and for the security of our country and peace on the sub-continent”.
UNI adds: The Congress (R) President, Mr. D. Shanjivayya, appealed to countrymen to stand united behind the Prime Minister and extend full support in protecting “our borders and safeguarding sovereignty.”
In a statement here he condemned the wanton aggression by Pakistan on Indian soil.
Indian Commercial Pilots Association has placed its “unreserved service” at the disposal of the Mrs. Gandhi.
In a letter to the Prime Minister, the Association said “at this juncture when every person in the country will have to put his shoulder to the wheel of the war efforts, we place our unreserved services at your disposal.”
The National Union of Seafarers of India on behalf of the 30,000 Indian seamen has assured Mrs. Gandhi of full support and cooperation.
Mr. Leo Barnes, General Secretary of the Union, in a telegram to Mrs. Gandhi said the seamen who formed the second line of defence were willing to make every sacrifice for the defence of the nation and were solidly behind her in this hour of crisis.
The Maharashtra Chief Minister, Mr. V. P. Naik, called upon the people to stand solidly and unitedly behind the defence efforts of the country to give a crushing blow to Pakistan. Mr. Naik was speaking at a meeting of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (R).
Mr. J. R. D. Tata, in a message to Mrs. Gandhi said, “our thoughts are with you in this hour of crisis and I would like you to know that the whole Tata organisation, including my, colleagues and myself individually, are totally and unreservedly at your disposal.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 5.12.1971