Reagan Tells Gandhi He Has Support of U.S.

President Reagan welcomed Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi to the White House today with an expression of firm support for Indian efforts to maintain national unity in the face of a powerful Sikh separatist movement.

Receiving Gandhi at a ceremony that included full military honors, Reagan said the United States “remains steadfastly dedicated to India’s unity and we firmly oppose those who would undermine it.”

During the 20-minute ceremony, Sikh militants protesting Gandhi’s visit could be heard shouting slogans from beyond the White House gates.

Reagan seemed intent on giving Gandhi a warm welcome as the youthful Indian leader embarked on his first visit here since taking office after his mother’s assassination seven months ago.

‘Deep Well of Affection’

“You will find a deep well of affection and respect for India and its people,” Reagan said. “Our shared democratic ideals serve as a bridge between us.”

He said the disagreements between the two countries over global security issues and other areas should not preclude forthright discussions.

“We do so with confidence because we are convinced that our fundamental areas of agreement far outweigh our differences of the moment,” he said.

Gandhi limited his remarks to generalities about the values the two countries share.

“It should be the task of all of us who hold responsibility for other people’s lives to recognize what life and its continuance demand in this hate-filled, violence-prone world of ours,” he said.

‘Imperative of Cooperation’

“The inevitability of co-existence must propel us towards the imperative of cooperation,” he said.

Afterward, a senior U.S. official said Reagan and Gandhi had a fairly extensive discussion of the Afghan situation during their half-hour private meeting.

The official also said Reagan asked Gandhi about his impressions of Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev based on Gandhi’s recent visit to Moscow.

According to the official, Gandhi expressed appreciation for the work of the FBI in uncovering an alleged plot by Sikh extremists to kill the Indian leader during his visit. Last month, four Sikhs were arrested in New Orleans in connection with the reported plot.

The official described the meeting as warm and friendly. “They hit it off quite well,” he said.