Inviting Foreign Parliamentarians
Swaran Singh Agrees To Suggestion
From Our Special Correspondent, NEW DELHI, July 2~On the ground that an official text of President Yahya Khan’s broadcast on Bangladesh had still to be received Mr. Swaran Singh declined to add to Mrs Gandhi’s comments on the subject when the discussion was resumed in the Congress (R) Parliamentary Party meeting today President Yahya Khan’s statement he thought had almost paved the way for separation of the two wings of Pakistan.
He repeated that Bangladesh representatives had clearly rejected the political programme enunciated by President Yahya Khan, and that the broadcast vindicated India’s stand that Pakistan’s rulers did not desire a political resolution of the Bangladesh issue.
No doubt gratified by the result of four British M. P.s visit. Mr Swaran Singh also accepted Mr. N N Kailash’s suggestion that it would be more profitable to invite parliamentarians from abroad to look at the Bangladesh situation themselves than to send India delegations abroad to explain it. He announced that some members of the West German Parliament were already in the country on a fact-finding mission and similar visits were expected from Australia, Canada and the USA (a group of Senators). Mr. Swaran Singh also praised the world Press and TV networks for their coverage of the events in Bangladesh.
The Minister said that although they had been highly critical at times the members of the party had “overwhelmingly supported the Government’s handling of the situation. He appealed to them to be careful in expressing their opinions and to help the Government by building up the proper atmosphere in the country.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 2.7.1971