Dawn
14th March 1969
Awami League Snaps ties with DAC: Party to continue nationwide movement, says Mujib
From MAHBUBUL ALAM
RAWALPINDI, March 13: The Six-Point Awami League today severed connection with the Democratic Action Committee on the ground that the latter had “failed” to support the basic demands of the people such as regional autonomy, dismemberment of One Unit and representation on the basis of population.
Announcing the decision of his party at a press conference this afternoon, the Awami League chief, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman said he was confident that if the other members of the DAC had acted more responsibly and worked to achieve a consensus where by solutions could be arrived at of the basic issues, now left unsettled, the President would have had no option but to accept them.
The Sheikh said it was tragic that the DAC, with the exception of NAP, the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Nurul Amin, some independent members including Mr. Justice Murshed, should have failed to articulate the basic demands of the people for which so many lives have been lost and heroic sacrifices have been made. He also regretted that other members of the DAC did not even wait to work out the methods of amendments of vital details regarding the basis of representation in the Legislature, before expressing unqualified acceptance of the President’s proposals.
“My party is therefore constrained to dissociate itself from the DAC the Sheikh declared adding that the Awami League would continue to strive for the attainment of unresolved basic issues in order to arrive at an effective political solution. He stressed that the Awami League would continue the movement not only in East Pakistan but throughout the country in a peaceful and constitutional way for the attainment of the basic demands of the people. His party believed that in such a solution alone lay the salvation of Pakistan. “A strong and united Pakistan can only emerge from a political solution which meets the basic demands of the people of Pakistan.”
The Sheikh declined to comment when asked whether he would describe the conference as a success or a failure. He said he would call a meeting of the Working Committee of his Party to consider the entire situation. “I am not a dictator; I have to go by Party decision”, he said.
Asked if he was satisfied with the outcome of the RTC, the Awami League Chief said if he was satisfied his Party would not have left the DAC.
PRESIDENT’S SPEECH
Commenting on the President’s announcements before the RTC today, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman said in the course of his prepared statement at the Press conference, that the President had proposed to effect amendments to the existing Constitution in order to convert it into a Federal Parliamentary system and to provide for direct adult franchise. He said the President had not adverted to demands for regional autonomy or the question of One Unit and had further indicated that representation would continue on the basis of parity and the distribution of subjects between the centre and the regions would remain as it is.
The “basic issues”, according to the Sheikh, still remained unsettled although two had been accepted by the President.
The Awami League leader who addressed the Press conference within three hours of the conclusion of the RTC, said he had told Law Minister S. M. Zafar that if they wanted he was prepared to submit to the Government important amendments to the constitution within 24 to 48 hours.
Replying to a question, Sheikh Mujib said that the DAC had accepted in principle the demand for full regional autonomy. Even on the issue of Federal Parliamentary system, the definition remained unexplained. There were so many definitions of federal parliamentary system, he said.
Agency reports add:
Asked by a foreign correspondent if concessions given by President Ayub would be acceptable to him Sheikh Mujibur Rahman restored: There is no question of concessions. President had agreed to whatever he thought proper.
The Awami League chief said that so far his party was concerned it would not rest until demands of the people were fully met.
Replying to another questions, he said that the Working Committee of his party would soon meet to consider and decide about its earlier decision on boycotting election.
Replying to a question that he had earlier agreed about the proposals presented by the Democratic Action Committee, he said: “I had only agreed on the fundamentals and not about the details.”
When asked that the President had earlier accepted the eight points put forward by the Democratic Action Committee he said that those were only the pre-conditions for starting parleys.
When asked that whether he had met the American counsel in Dacca before leaving for Pindi to attend the dialogue, he said: “I don’t exactly remember because when I was released so many persons were coming to meet me including foreigners and foreign correspondents.”
Shaikh Mujibur Rahman said that he was prepared to submit least of the amendments to the constitution incorporating demands of the people direct to the Government if it wanted.
TEXT
Following is the text of statement made by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at the Press conference.
“In my opening address I impressed upon the participants of the round table conference that the task with which it was confronted was that of finding an effective political solution in order to resolve the grave crisis that had engulfed the nation. I had emphasized that it was imperative to face squarely the basic issues underlying the upheaval which had shaken the very foundations of the nation. The popular mass movement had obliged the President to convene the Round-Table Conference at which the basic demands of the people could be pressed. With all earnestness, I had urged the participant to recognise that an effective political solution must meet the demand for full regional autonomy as well as the demand for the dismemberment of One Unit. I had outlined clearly formulated proposals for regional autonomy and had indicated that a committee of experts of all parties could work out the details.
The President has proposed to effect amendments to the existing constitution in order to convert it into a federal parliamentary system, and to provide that the representatives of the people should be elected on the basis direct adult franchise. He has not adverted to the demands for regional autonomy or the question of One Unit and has further indicated that representation would continue on the basis of party and the distribution of subjects between the centre and the regions would remain as it is. This therefore leaves these basic issues unsettled.
“He had indicated as his principal reason that agreed specifications on the matters were not presented to him at the Round Table Conference. It is tragic that the Democratic Action Committee with the exception of NAP Mr. Nurul Amin, some independent members including Justice Murshed, should have failed to articulate the above basic demands of the people for which so many lives have been lost and such heroic sacrifices have been made by them. I regret that the other members of the Committee (except NAP) did not even wait to work out the methods of amendment of vital details regarding the basis of representation in the Legislature, before expressing unqualified acceptance of the President’s proposals.
“I am confident that had the other members of the Democratic Action Committee acted more responsibly and worked to achieve a consensus, whereby solutions could be arrived at of the basic issues, now left unsettled, the President would have had no option but to accept it.
“My party is therefore constrained to disassociate itself from the Democratic Action Committee. Our party, along with others who believe that the basic issues which have remained unsettled must be resolved in order to arrive at an effective political solution will continue to strive for its attainment by constitutional and peaceful means and will not spare any effort in this direction, as we believe that in such a solution alone lies the salvation of Pakistan.
A strong and united Pakistan can only emerge from a political solution which meet the basic demand of the people of all parts of Pakistan.
সুত্র: সংবাদপত্রে বঙ্গবন্ধু: পঞ্চম খণ্ড ॥ ষাটের দশক ॥ চতুর্থ পর্ব ॥ ১৯৬৯