World will have to ensure refugees’ return : Ram
By A Staff Reporter, At the end of his two-day visit to the Bangladesh refugee camps in Assam and West Bengal the Union Defense Minister Mr. Jagjivan Ram told newsmen at Petrapole, near Bongaon on Sunday afternoon that the nations of the world would have to consider what other steps could be taken to solve the problem created by the “unprecedented” influx of evacuees from Bangladesh to India.
He characterized Pakistan Government’s treatment of the people of Bangladesh as “barbarous ” and the manner of uprooting the millions of these people as a stigma on the entire human history.”
The Minister said “We have already approached different nations to impress upon the Pakistan Government the need for immediately creating conditions in East Bengal for the return of the multitude of this suffering humanity to its homeland.”
Even after this, he added if Pakistan persisted in “carrying of its barbarous policy, which has been compelling millions and millions of men women and children to make a stream towards India for safety and honor” it would be for the nations of the world to consider “what other steps they would like to take for the solution to this grave problem.”
Before leaving for Delhi the Defense Minister said at Dum Dum Airport that the Government was alert to the problem of infiltration by ‘undesirable’ persons along with the refugees from Bangladesh.”We have taken all steps to prevent their entry,’ he said. He agreed with a reporter that the infiltrators would create a social problem for this country, besides being an economic burden.
Asked about the possibility of dispersal of refugees to other States, as demanded by the Eastern States. Mr. Ram said he had discussed the issue with the Union Rehabilitation Minister Mr. Khadilkar and also with the Chief Minister Mr. Ajoy Mukherjee earlier on the day. Steps were being taken towards dispersing the refugees he said but results might not be expected “very soon.”
Addressing several thousand evacuees the Defense Minister said India had told Pakistan times without number to create feasible and tolerable conditions for the return of the uprooted humanity to their homeland.
Anyway, Mr. Ram said “I have come here to see for myself your unfortunate existence with my own eyes and to find out what else could be done to mitigate your sufferings.”
Returning to Dum Dum Airport by helicopter at about 3 p.m. Mr. Ram left for Delhi in an IAF plane about 15 minutes afterwards .
Addressing a Press conference at Raj Bhavan Calcutta, at noon, the Defense Minister described the huge influx of evacuees from Bangladesh as a “great burden on us”. He said that the number of evacuees had outstripped sheltering arrangements. Many were living in the open.
Pakistani troops shelled Indian territory several hours before the arrival of Mr. Jagjivan Ram, Union Defense Minister, at Petrapole, on Sunday.
An 81mm mortar shell landed close to the Indian Border Security Force outpost early in the morning. There were no casualties. The shell landed right on Jessore road. The BSF personnel took up positions but did not return fire.
The three BSF men who were injured on Thursday in Pakistani shelling are in hospital.
On Saturday night Pakistani troops set fire to Shadipur village close to the Indian border. Some residents who had not yet crossed over to India were killed.
Reference: Hindustan Standard, 24.05.1971