DEMANDS FOR GRANTS IN RESPECT OF GENERAL BUDGET, 1968-69

Summary

This three-page Lok Sabha notice, issued in New Delhi on April 2, 1968, lists motions to reduce the Ministry of External Affairs’ demands under the General Budget for 1968–69 (Demand Nos. 13 and 14). It is a parliamentary catalogue of objections rather than an authored argument. The motions seek reductions on grounds of policy disapproval and, in one case, a token reduction of Rs. 100.

The listed objections challenge the Government’s foreign-policy and diplomatic priorities across the Cold War and postcolonial international order. They call for stronger regional security arrangements in response to Chinese expansionism, stricter adherence to non-alignment, action concerning Tibet and territories occupied by China and Pakistan, and greater pressure on regimes in Rhodesia, South Africa, and Portugal. Other motions address India’s relations with Kenya, Burma, Nepal, Bhutan, Ceylon, Vietnam, Germany, and the Commonwealth of Nations, while also criticising embassy expenditure, foreign publicity, staffing, diplomatic representation, and the use of English rather than Hindi in foreign missions. The notice closes with motions concerning foreign policy’s alleged harm to the national interest and Government indifference toward ‘Azad Kashmir’.

Key points

• The document gives notice of Lok Sabha motions for reduction concerning the Ministry of External Affairs’ 1968–69 budget demands.
• The principal policy objection concerns the Government’s failure to develop regional security arrangements against Chinese expansionism in South and South-East Asia.
• The motions criticise alleged departures from non-alignment and insufficient action regarding Tibet, China-occupied Indian territory, Pakistan-occupied Indian territory, and ‘Azad Kashmir’.
• Several motions demand stronger diplomatic or political action concerning Kenya, Rhodesia, South Africa, Portugal, Vietnam, Germany, Burma, Nepal, Bhutan, and Ceylon.
• The notice also raises administrative concerns about embassy expenditure, foreign missions, senior posts, appointments, publicity, delegations, and extradition treaties.
• One group of motions argues that Indian missions neglect the national language Hindi and fail to present an accurate image of Indian culture abroad.