Warnings By Shastri

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30793, 3 July 1965, Page 15

Warnings By Shastri

(.V Z Press Assn—Copyright) NEW DELHI. July 2. The Prime Minister, Mr Shastri, warned his impoverished people yesterday to be prepared for “greater discipline and hardship” as the Government tries to invigorate India’s faltering economy. In the strongest speech he has made since succeeding 13 months ago the late Prime Minister. Mr Nehru, Mr Shastri said in a nation-wide broadcast that all Indians must cooperite in strengthening India economically and politically. “1 want you to feel the glow of belonging to a great country which has inspiring

traditions and a glorious future ahead.'' he said. "1 want you all to participate physically ®nd emotion-

ally in the adventure of building up a new India.” For Mr Shastri. it was an unusual attempt to rally India’s 480 m people. Up to now the Prime Minister has made only a brief reference to the development that has preoccupied his. Government in recent weeks—the cease-fire agreement signed with Pakistan to end their territorial quarre' in the Rann if Kutch. India had been in grave oeril. but "reason has prevailed" and the situation has not been allowed to get out of hand." he said. Foreign Exchange Mr Shastri emphasised India's deepening foreign exchange crisis and its almost continual food shortages. • Foreign exchange reserves had dwindled to an all-time low of about 421 m U.S. dollars and sharp curtailment of

imports had been ordered, he said. As for the food situation, experts felt the next three months would be critical —in spite of American efforts to maintain an average inflow of 600.000 tons of aid wheat monthly. The Prime Minister also made an unprecedented appeal for intensive birth control programmes to limit India's population explosion, which adds about 12m new mouths annually, while food production is stagnant. Until now. he has said he could not very well endorse birth control as he is the father of six children. Turning to his recent travels abroad, he paid special tribute to the Soviet Union, which, he said, had an “abiding friendship” for India and was anxious to help the nation’s economic development.