POSITION IN INDIA

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31321, 17 March 1967, Page 11

POSITION IN INDIA

! ‘Critical Period’ (N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) NEW DELHI, March 16 The Prime Minister, Mrs Indira Gandhi, said yesterday that India had a stable Government, but was going through the most critical period in its history. “Never have we faced such a testing time,” she said. “There are demands and expectations on every side.” Mrs Gandhi, in her first nation-wide broadcast since her re-election as leader on Sunday, mentioned food shortages, over-population, student unrest and the recent wave of violence. “I am sure each one of us is gravely concerned over the tendency to resort to violence or coercive methods," she said. “Such methods have no place in a parliamentary democracy.” Referring to political rioting which broke out last week in Rajasthan and led to the imposition of direct Presidential rule in the state, she said: “I hope it will soon be possible to restore normal responsible government in that state.”

She warned that India’s population, increasing by 30,000 a day, must be controlled “before we are submerged by the sheer weight of numbers.”

Good Surplus.— Britain’s balance of overseas payments showed a surplus of £l2l million in the final quarter of last year, the Government has announced. A spokesman said that it was the best result since 1959.—London. March 16.