Bangla developments a threat to India : PM
From Our Special Correspondent, NEW DELHI, May 26.-The Prime Minister reiterated in the Lok Sabha today that the developments in Bangladesh posed a threat to the security of India and also to the peace in South-East Asia
Mrs. Gandhi, who was winding up a debate on Bangladesh, regretted that when democracy had so brutally been destroyed in Bangladesh. “We do not hear much comment nor do we see the spontaneous response” that was expected from abroad.
While urging the members to have faith in “the courageous people of Bangladesh and their determination to fight for their rights,” the Prime Minister did not commit the Government on the question of recognition of the Bangladesh Government. She repeated what had been said by the External Affairs Minsiter in the Rajya Sabha yesterday that the matter was “constantly under review. We have given deep and anxious thought to all aspects.”
Mrs. Gandhi said that the Government was “not certainly awaiting to see what other countries do in this matter. Whatever we do is guided by our individual assentment and how our interest in broad sense is served.”
The Prime Minister declared that her Government did not lack courage and was not afraid of taking any risk whenever necessary. “We are concerned not merely with the legal aspect of this situation.” India was concerned about her national interest and security and that of the heroic people of Bangladesh.
The Prime Minister appealed to the country to be prepared for hardship and sacrifice and urged the political parties to ensure that the question of Bangladesh was not reduced to a communal level. It should be treated at national and international level.
During the resumed debate today, more members urged the Government to recognise the Bangladesh Government. One of the powerful speakers today was the former Defence Minister. Mr V. K. Krishna Menon. He said that if India did not recognise the Bangladesh Government what face it had to ask others to do so. Mr. Menon criticised the talk of “political solution” in Bangladesh and said that it was a “dangerous word” which would demoralise the people. There was no political solution except the withdrawal of the aggressor from Bangladesh. It was a “war of extermination” that Pakistani military rulers had unleashed in Bangladesh, he added.
Mr. Menon suggested a conference to be called by the External Affairs Minister of the Indian Ambassadors in sensitive areas. He argued that diplomatic pressure should be put on Britain and the USA for total stoppage of arms supply to Pakistan.
The former Defence Minister hoped that all able-bodied evacuees would go back to Bangladesh to fight. He also suggested that the Bangladesh Government should be broadbased and reflect the entire people. It should be a revolutionary Government.
Mrs. Gandhi expressed her deep concern at the crushing of the people in Bangladesh. Though the election had been held under the military regime, immediately after the election, she said, the military repression had been used to mercilessly halt the democratic process.
The Prime Minister said that India had been told by some countries that they might disapprove what had happened in Bangladesh: yet they could not be a party to ‘disintegration of Pakistan’. If there was a struggle between two wings of Pakistan certainly it was not of India’s making; it was the making of the rulers of Pakistan. She was doubtful whether the method being used could achieve integration now or in the future.
Mrs. Gandhi said that the question of secession had also been raised. It was forgotten, she said, that majority of Pakistan’s people lived in the Eastern wing and the majority could not be accused of secession if they insisted on their rights. Now not only the 75 million people were being crushed but a situation had been created which had damaging effect on economic, political and social life of this country. What happened in Bangladesh had its repercussion on India and it could not be considered an internal problem of Pakistan. “It is India’s problem too, more it is a World-wide problem”. The international community must appreciate this. Any failure to do so might lead to disastrous consequences. It was a problem of the “very survival of the people” created by calculated genocide.
Mrs. Gandhi said that any help given to the rulers of Pakistan would be used against innocent people of Bangladesh.
The Prime Minister assured the members that she would keep in touch with the Opposition on the Bangladesh question. She urged them not to lose heart. The spirit of freedom could not be vanquished, she added.
UNI, adds: The Prime Minister asked the countries of the world to Intervene in the situation in Bangladesh and to see that peace and security was reestablished and maintained there.
Participating in the debate. Mr. Dinesh Singh, former External Affairs Minister, said the international community would feel the need for an early political solution in Bangladesh if the Mukti Fouj succeeded even now in establishing complete control over an area into which the refugees now in India, could be moved. PTI adds.
Mr. Singh said India too should begin the initiative it had lost during the first weeks of the liberation struggle by Bangladesh and to base its present approaches to the international community on “positive” proposals.
Mr. Singh said recognition of Bangladesh would strengthen the Government in the action it had to take in the area. Legal and consitutional support for the step could be marshalled,
Reference: Hindustan Standard 27.5.1971