The Indian Government’s pro-Arab policy in the Middle East conflict is being challenged by a militant Hindu party which Moslems in India liken to Hitler’s Brown-shirts, Christian Science Monitor correspondent Ernest Weatherall reported from New Delhi today.
The challenge posed by the anti-Moslem Jana Sangh Party headed by Balraj Makok has been intensified since an Indian delegation was rebuffed when it tried to attend the all-Moslem summit conference in Rabat, Morocco, a week ago, Mr. Weatherall reported. Hindu feelings have been further inflamed by the warm official welcome accorded a delegation of the Palestine Liberation Organization which is on a fund-raising and propaganda tour of India.
“The reason the El Fatah commandos have been given official Government of India approval is because New Delhi has been backing the Arabs in their confrontation with Israel.” Mr. Weatherall wrote. “But the Government’s decision to cast its lot with that of the Soviet Union by supporting the Arabs in the June, 1967 war has not been a popular move, especially with Hindu chauvinistic political parties such as the Jana Sangh. Many feel that India should have maintained the nonaligned policy of Pandit Nehru and remained aloof from taking sides.” Mr. Weatherall said that India’s pro-Arab stand has lost it many liberal friends in Washington such as Sen. Jacob K. Javits (Republican) and Rep. Emanuel Celler (Democrat) of New York. According to Mr. Weatherall, the Jana Sangh Party is blamed by some for the anti-Moslem riots which have reportedly taken more than a thousand lives in provincial cities.
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