GOA, India, May 29, Reuter: Celebrations marking the accession to Indian statehood of the former Portuguese colony of Goa were postponed following the death today of former Prime Minister Charan Singh.
Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi cancelled his visit to the small territory on India’s west coast, and officials here told Reuters no new date had been set for his arrival.
But they said Goa would still formally become India’s 25th state at midnight tonight (1830GMT), and the new governor and ministers would be sworn in tomorrow as planned.
Goa was ruled by the Portuguese for 451 years until 1961 when Jawaharlal Nehru, believing further negotiations would be fruitless, sent in troops to incorporate it into India.
India is to mark in 197080, with four days of State mourning during which all official celebrations will be cancelled. Singh died this morning at the age of 85.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 5, 1987
