India may have to bow to pressure

Press, 21 July 1986, Page 1

India may have to bow to pressure

NZPA-AFP New Delhi

India’s squad for the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh failed to board their scheduled flight for London yesterday, sports officials said.

“No, the contingent did not leave. . We have once again put off the departure; it will now leave tomorrow (Monday) or the day after, subject to the clearance of the Government,” said the assistant secretary of the Indian Olympic Association, Mr A. K. Sinha. Ninety-eight members of the 126-member squad were to leave by a regular Air India flight for London yesterday and the rest later, after they delayed their departure last Monday to await the result of a meeting of frontline African States on Britain’s refusal to impose full economic sanctions on South Africa.

Last-minute diplomatic efforts were believed to be under way to try to keep India in the Games, due to start on Thursday, but it was widely expected that the most populous Commonwealth member would eventually be forced to follow the lead of the African States. India had earlier raid it would not join a boycott of the Games if the British Prime Minister, Mrs Thatcher, promised steps to help end apartheid in South Africa. India said it would consider attending the Games

if Mrs Thatcher agreed to measures against Pretoria. Sri Lanka is reconsider- • ing its plans to take part in the Games in Edinburgh, raid the Sports, Minister, Mr Vincent Perera. . - . He told Reuters that President Junius Jayewardene would decide on the issue -later in the day. Dominica and Antigua yesterday joined eight

other Caribbean nations boycotting the Games. Known withdrawals: Antigua, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Dominica, Gambia, Ghana, Guyana, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, ‘ Malaysia, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Sierra Leone, St Kitts, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. . .v.