INDIAN BOMB?

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30593, 9 November 1964, Page 14

INDIAN BOMB?

“Counter To China”

(N.Z. Press Association) GUNTUR (South-east India), November 8 India should develop nuclear capacity to defend her territorial integrity against the aggressive designs of China.

This suggestion was made yesterday by several members of the ruling Congress Party during a four-hour debate in the opening session of a conference for the AllIndia Congress Committee (the ruling party’s “Parliament”) on a resolution on international affairs sponsored by the party leaders. The resolution expressed support for the Indian Government’s policy of using atomic energy for exclusively peaceful purposes. But several members moved amendments asking the Government to reserve the right to make nuclear weapons if forced by circumstances.

One member said India should make an atom bomb, and suggested a referendum on the question. Two other members sought a change in India’s policy and said a matter involving India's integrity should be viewed more seriously by the Congress working committee. The Prime Minister (Mr Shastri) and several of his Cabinet colleagues and members of the Indian Parliament are among 400 members attending.