PM decries murder in name of revolution
From Our Special Correspondent, RANCHI, Aug. 30—The Prime Minister confidently said that people of India were well poised to face various problems now confronted by the country and the Congress was determined to back up people’s movement to change the sociopolitical and economic facade of the country through peaceful means.
Obliquely referring to politics of violence now on in certain parts of the country she remarked that murders and destructions in name of revolution would endanger our democracy and the hard-won freedom.
Mrs. Gandhi who arrived here this forenoon by a special IAF plane en route in Purnea to address participants in a 12-day training programme for Congress cadres of eastern regional States now in progress in Ranchi called upon young Congressmen to devote their time and energy in making people conscious about their rights and responsibilities in a democratic society wedded to socialism and stated that poverty, ill health, illiteracy and economic disparity would keep the country weak if they persisted unabated. These were positive threats to a democratic way of life too, she said.
In an indirect reference to Bangladesh issue she said that critics of the Central Government had started a propaganda offensive that refugees would be a permanent burden on India and declared that she was doing everything possible to get this ticklish problem solved and added “this problem has been imposed on us but that does not mean that we shall turn our from miseries of millions of people of a neighbouring country fighting for freedom.”
The country, she said was following internal and foreign policies according to her tradition and it was an affront to the people to say that the Union Government was trying to suppress democracy and toeing lines of other countries in formulating its foreign policy. Certain changes were bound to come in our attitude from time to time to make policies dynamic, meaningful and time-bound. Opposition or no opposition, she asserted spiritedly, her party would endeavor relentlessly and firmly to translate programmes into action and expressed her satisfaction that the party had taken up cadre-building programme so seriously and earnestly. Poverty and backwardness were the twin international problems which Congress was determined to wipe out from India, but certainly not throught violent means, as some were advocating. Legal measure would also not be enough to achieve success in these directions. “We must choose areas of attack on a priority basis and trained workers will have to play great role in determining the areas in consultation with the masses,” she said added that problems of poverty an backwardness were more acute in the Chotanagpur region where concentration of Adivasis was heavy.
Mr Mocirai Munda. President Ranchi DCC, presided over the meeting and Mr. K. D. Malavy Convener of AICC (R)’s training and cadre-buildig programme sopke on the subject being discussed in camp.
In spite of inclement weath and occasional rain a large number of people tumed up at he aerodrome to welcome the Prime Minister. She was received by the Bihar Governor. Mr. D. Barooah severfal Bihar Ministeres, Congress leaders and others. She was accompanied by Miss Padmaja Naidu, a former Governor of West Bengal and Mr. A. P. Sharma, MP. and former Bihar PCC chief. Mrs. Gandhi held discussions with Mr. Ram Lakshman Singh Yadav, a leader of Bihar Congress (R) at HSL’s guest house before proceeding towards the HSL, Community Hall where the meeting was held. There was none during her brief else talk with Mr. Yadav on the affairs of BPCC, it was learnt.
PM arrives in city today
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Accompanied by Mr. Siddhartha Sankar Ray, Union Minister for West Bengal Affairs. Miss Padmaja Naidu and the Governor. Mr. Dias. visited the camps, inspected a hopsital and distributed milk and fruits among the patients.
After the visit, she flew by a helicopter to Bengdub near Siliguri where she will stay tonight.
She will visit refugee camps in Cooch Behar tomorrow before flying to Calcutta.
A Staff Reporter adds : The Prime Minister will be closeted with the Chief Secretary and other senior officials of the State after she arrives in Calcutta on Tuesday.
Besides, the evacuee problem and the flood, a review of the general law and order situation will get priority at the meeting.
The Chief Secretary, Mr. N. C. Sen Gupta, had a series of meetings with the Home Secretary, the IG, and the Calcutta Police Commissioner, in Writers’ Buildings on Monday.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 31.8.1971