Bangla cause betrayed, says JS
MADRAS, Oct. 10—The Working Committee of the Jana Sanga has charged the Union Government with having betrayed the cause of Bangladesh, says PTI.
A resolution adopted by the Working Committee at its meeting here today said, “the statement of the “External Affairs Minister, Sardar Swaran Singh, at Simla calling for a political settlement within the framework of Pakistan is a shameful let down”.
“This anti-climate statement serves only to highlight the utter incapacity of the Congreess (R) to protect national interests and subservience to the Super-Powers in the matter of national decisionmaking”.
It called upon “all nationalist and democratic forces which have been urging immediate recognition of Bangladesh to make a concerted effect to prevent this capitulation.”
The resolution recalled the Jana Sangh’s view that as far as India was concerned the touchstone for assessing the Indo-Soviet treaty’s worth would be its efficacy in helping India to solve Bangladesh problem. “Sardar Swaran Singh’s statement is a pointer that the treaty has not only not helped us in this matter, but has also seriously hamstrung our freedom of action’.
The treaty had compelled India to renounce support to the cause of Bangladesh’s independence and to acquiesce in Soviet Union’s keenness to preserve the present framework of a United Pakistan. This keenness, the resolution added, was ardently shared by the USA.
The Soviet Union had made no secret of their anxiety or this score. The joint Soviet Algeria communique of October 9 had affirmed respect for the national unity and integrity of Pakistan and appealed to India and Pakistan to “find a peace full settlement for the problem confronting them in the spirit of the Tashkent meeting”.
The resolution said that “for months now” the Prime Minister and other Government spokesmen had been telling the people that recognition of an independent, sovereign Bangladesh was quite on the cards but that the timing of such a decision should be left to the Government. The Defence Minister was also on record as having said that there could be no political solution to the problem short of independence.
“Against the background of categoric statements of this kind, made many times, both inside and outside Parliament, the Government of India’s sudden volte-face has no other explanation except it is an ignominious surrender to Soviet pressure”, the resolution said.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 11.10. 1971