Support For Mrs Gandhi As Indian P.M. Grows

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30961, 18 January 1966, Page 7

Support For Mrs Gandhi As Indian P.M. Grows

(N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) NEW DELHI, Jan. 17. Mrs Indira Gandhi, a strong favourite as India’s next Prime Minister, said yesterday her country’s main problems are its under-developed economy and a threat from China, the Associated Press reported.

Mrs Gandhi, daughter of the late Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, also said there is nothing wrong with having a woman leader for India’s 480 million people. "It is a question of being a human being, not a man or woman,” she said. Mrs Gandhi was speaking to newsmen as India’s Ruling Congress Party prepared to elect the new Prime Minister on Wednesday. Mr Morarji Desai, the Party’s Right-wing leader and a former Finance Minister, is Mrs Gandhi’s only strong challenger. The Acting Prime Minister, Mr Nanda, and the Defence Minister, Mr Chavan, backed down when most State Chief Ministers indicated their support for Mrs Gandhi. Her supporters said she already had more than enough votes to win the election. Foreign Policy Views Asked what she considered to be India’s main foreign policy problem, she replied: “Well, it is good relations with her neighbours. One problem is China and that is a threat to us.” In internal problems, she said: “Economic development. Increasing food and agricultural production is part of that. You cannot separate agricultural from industrial production.” Mrs Gandhi indicated that if she becomes Prime Minister, she win stick by the late Mr Shastri’s move to im-

prove relations with Pakistan, India’s other big problem. She was asked what she thought of the agreement Mr Shastri signed in Tashkent with President Ayub Khan of Pakistan the day before he died in an effort to bring peace to the sub-continent. “It as a first step,” she said, “and I think it is a good step.

“I hope it will bring about better relations between India and her neighbour. It is important that India and Pakistan co-operate in economic and other matters regarding their development.” Left-wing Leaning

Mrs Gandhi, long-considered a member of the Congress Party’s Left-wing, was asked about being called “a representative of the Left.”

She replied: “I am a representative of all India, which includes all shades of opinion.”

Most political activity in New Delhi is now concentrated on persuading Mr Desai not to disrupt the Congress Party’s unity by openly fighting Mrs Gandhi.

Mr Nanda and Mr Chavan have promised Mrs Ghandi their support. But Mr Dasai was reported to be still hanging on, as he did in 1964 when he challenged Mr Shastri’s succession after Mr Nehru’s death.

CHRISTCHURCH. Stableford Handicap: T. C. Svensen 39 points, C. J. Ward 37, R. A. E. Brett 37.