Indian Premier decides to visit Bombay Congress

Catholic Herald Correspondent
MR. SHASTR1, Prime Minister of India. told a mass meeting on Chowpatty Sands, Bombay, last week that he had definitely decided to visit the city for a day to attend the Eucharistic Congress. He had originally said he would be unable to do so owing to other pressing engagements.
Some extremist sections of the Indian Press had tried to use his earlier announcement to fan religious animosities. But Mr. Shastri, in his Bombay speech, not only deplored such attempts but went out of his way to give categorical support to the Congress.
"The Congress is a test for the image of India, which tolerates all religions and cultures," he said. "Hinduism never considered itself superior to other religions. Its essence lies in its respect for them all He was confident that India would show its traditional hospitality in its liberal outlook towards the Congress. "It is up to us not to sully the image of India in the outside world," he added.
They should consider it an honour that India had been selected for the first International Eucharistic Congress ever to be held in Asia, and that Pope Paul would be the first Catholic pontiff to set foot on Indian soil.
Court action
A few days after the Bombay meeting the extremist opposition to the Congress took a new turn in the filing of a suit in the Bombay High Court aimed at preventing President Radhakrishnan and other Indian Government officials from attending the Congress. It is due to he heard today.
Filed by a Bombay citizen named Lavanprasad Fulchand Shah, it alleges that the official Federal and State support for the Congress is unconstitutional, as similar facilities and concessions are not granted to other religious organisations and conferences.
Cardinal Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay and President of the Congress, and Father Balaguer, the Secretary-General, have been named as party respondents in the suit.
Departure
The petition asks for the Central Government, Maharashtra State Government, Maharashtra Housing Board, the Port of Bombay Trustees and Bombay Municipal Corporation to be restrained from giving any assistance to the Congress.
Shah claims that the Congress is an attempt to spread Christianity in India.
Pope Paul will leave Fiumicino Airport, Rome, on the morning of December 2 in an Air India jet airliner and arrive at Bombay that evening. He will spend the whole of December 3 there and leave for Rome on the morning of December 4. No plans have been announced for a visit to New Delhi or Goa.
Fr. Basset and picture—P. 9