From the archives - dated November 16, 1966

China’s intrusions into Bhutan

Members of the Rajya Sabha to-day [November 15, New Delhi] warned the Government that repeated Chinese intrusions into Bhutan might be a prelude to an attack on India or an exercise in testing India’s determination to defend Bhutan. Mr. M.C. Chagla, External Affairs Minister, assured the House that the Government would take every step to see that “Bhutan’s sovereignty is safeguarded” in accordance with India’s treaty obligations. Mr. Chagla’s assurance followed a charge by Mr. A.B. Vajpayee, Jan Sangh leader, that the Government had “misled” the House in regard to Chinese intrusions into Bhutan. Mr. Vajpayee said that while the Defence Minister had told the House in September last that the Chinese had not entered Bhutan, the reply given by Mr. Dinesh Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs, to-day [November 15] was that the first Chinese intrusion occurred on April 13, 1956. Mr. Vajpayee asked whether the Government “deliberately kept Parliament in ignorance” or was it a case of Government having no information. Mr. M.P. Bhargava asked when the Government first came to know that Chinese had entered Bhutan in April 1966. Mr. Raj Narain asked whether the first information came from the Government’s own intelligence sources or from the Bhutan Government. Mr. Dinesh Singh said he could not say off-hand anything in regard to what the Defence Minister had told the House in September last “I shall have to check it up.” Mr. Dinesh Singh did not say specifically when the Government got the news about the first intrusion.

No change in name of BHU

The Lok Sabha to-day [Nov. 15] rejected the suggestion made by the Rajya Sabha that the name of “the Banaras Hindu University” should be changed to “Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya Kashi Vishwa Vidyalaya.” The move to change the name met with strong opposition when the House was discussing the Banaras Hindu University Act Amending Bill as passed by the Rajya Sabha. Mr. Chagla, who piloted the bill, in the absence of Mr. Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, Education Minister who is convalescing in a nursing home here [New Delhi], pleaded that there should not be any denominational words in the names of educational institutions but he made it clear that he would leave the decision to the House. But what was surprising was that a decision on such an important clause was taken only with less than 50 members present in the House. Since the House has now disagreed with the Rajya Sabha on this clause the Bill will be returned to Rajya Sabha for its concurrence. If the Rajya Sabha rejects the amendment of the Lok Sabha, then a joint sitting of both the Houses will have to be summoned under the Constitution.

India seeks U.S. wheat aid

India has made a firm request to the United States for the supply of 3.7 million tons of wheat and milo jowar in the first half of 1967 besides the request for two million tons of additional grain during the current year, it was authoritatively learnt here [New Delhi] to-day [November 15]. At the moment, the firm request for import is only for 5.7 million tons. If the crop position in the forthcoming kharif and rabi stations is normal, the additional quantity of import would be another four million tons during the second half of 1967. This year the Soviet Union is reported to have had a bumper crop and Russia had contracted to import eight to nine million tons of wheat from Canada over the next three years. In the context of Russia’s comfortable position, enquiry is being made by India if any surplus foodgrain will be available from that country. Kharif crop, which constitutes two thirds of grain production in the country, has been affected with the result that the administration has now undertaken the task of re-assessment of the import requirements. Government is also trying to locate sources of supply if additional imports are necessary. It is therefore sounding various countries, particularly predominantly wheat-producing countries like Canada and Australia.

Published - November 16, 2016 02:27 am IST