India Joins Boycott of Commonwealth Games; Total 24

India withdrew Sunday from the Commonwealth Games in protest over Britain’s policy toward South Africa, dealing the biggest blow yet to the competition scheduled to open Thursday in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Twenty-four of the 58 countries and territories eligible to compete have said they will not participate.

India would have had the largest Third World delegation--126 members--in the competition known as “the friendly games” that is held every four years.

Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and his government had delayed a decision, saying it would consider entering the games if Britain agreed to work with other countries at the Commonwealth meeting in London next month to take stern measures against South Africa.

But Sunday night, India’s Sports Ministry said the Indian contingent would not attend because “no gesture from Britain was forthcoming.”

In the 49-member Commonwealth, an organization of Britain and its former colonies, Britain has stood virtually alone against imposing economic sanctions against the white-led government of South Africa.

Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s government says it opposes South Africa’s policy of racial separation but that sanctions are not effective. Thatcher has said the boycott of the games is regrettable but is not an issue in which her Conservative Party government could intervene.