Muted Indian welcome for Mrs Thatcher
Mrs Margaret Thatcher, the Conservative Party leader, arrived here today to a quiet welcome. Mr Jagat Mehta, India's Foreign Secretary, was at the airport to receive her.
The Opposition leader spent most of the time before lunch sight-seeing. She then drove to the British High Commission, where she was briefed by the High Commissioner, and from there went on to meet Mr Y. B. Chavan, India's Foreign Minister.
Later, at a dinner at which he was host, Mr Chavan said India's relations with Britain had always been close.
Mrs Thatcher said in reply: “It is sometimes difficult for us to appreciate the size and scale of your problems, and only those who know them from experience can prescribe the remedies. Even when nations have successfully abolished poverty, ignorance and disease, difficulties remain. All of us have to learn the responsibilities as well as the rights of citizenship. ”
She said the way forward was often the one in which changes were made in accordance with the customs and conventions of the country, working always towards a goal which accorded human dignity and respect to its people. “In the same way as you have a number of British people working here, so we have an Indian community in Britain which, by engaging in many different occupations and professions, makes a real contribution to the life of the nation.
“Like you, we look to a harmonious future which can only be achieved by recognizing that we are all equal before the law, and equally entitled to live our own lives in freedom and dignity. ”
Mrs Thatcher is to meet Mrs Indira Gandhi tomorrow and afterwards will be the Indian Prime Minister's guest at lunch.