PM urges Sadat to persuade Yahya
CAIRO, May 23.-The Prime Minister of India has sent a personal message to the UAR President, Mr Sadat, which was understood to be primarily concerned with the grave situation in East Bengal and its consequent repercussions on the Indian sub-continent, reports PTI.
The content of Mrs Gandhi’s message were not known but it was believed that the Prime Minister had appeled to Mr Sadat to use his good offices with the Pakistan President, Gen Yahya Khan, to stop the bloodshed in East Bengal and assure security to its people.
It is assumed that Mrs Gandhi may have also taken the opportunity to extend India’s renewed support to Mr Sadat who last week steered through the worst political crisis in Egypt’s recent history in his quest for a peaceful settlement of the West Asia problem.
Mrs Gandhi’s letter was handed over to the UAR Deputy Premier and Foreign Minsiter, Mr Riad by the Indian Ambassador, Mr I J Bahadur Singh, when the latter called on him yesterday afternoon.
The Ambassador’s 40-minute meeting was in pursuance of India’s current diplomatic offensive to impress on friendly countries about the serious implications of developments in East Bengal especially the mass influx of refugees into India from there.
Mr. Riad did not reveal UAR’s attitude to the East Bengal situation but was understood to have promised to study India’s appeal carefully.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 24.5.1971