Prime Minister Indira
Gandhi's Statement in Parliament
The valiant struggle of the people of Bangla Desh in
the face of tremendous odds has opened a new chapter of heroism in the history
of freedom movements.
Earlier, they had recorded a great democratic
victory in their elections and even the President of Pakistan had conceded the
right of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to become Prime Minister of Pakistan. We shall
never know what intervened to transform this benevolent mood and realistic approach,
if it really was that, to deception and the posture of open hatred.
We are told that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his
party, the Awami League, had planned a non-violent movement of resistance to
the Government of West Pakistan, but they were caught unawares and overtaken by
a brutal military assault. They had no alternative but to declare independence.
The East Pakistan Rifles and East Bengal Regiment became the Mukti Fauj and
later the Mukti Bahini, which was joined by thousands of young East Bengalis determined
to sacrifice their lives for freedom and the right to fashion their future. The
unity, determination and courage with which the entire population of Bangla
Desh is fighting have been recorded by the world press.
These events on our doorstep and the resulting flood
of refugees into our territory could not but have far-reaching repercussions on
our country. It was natural that our sympathy should be with the people of
Bangla Desh in their just struggle. But we did not act precipitately in the
matter of recognition. Our decisions were not guided merely by emotion but by
an assessment of prevailing and future realities.
Revolt of the People
With the unanimous revolt of the entire people of
Bangla Desh and the success of their struggle, it has become increasingly
apparent that the so-called mother State of Pakistan is totally incapable of
bringing the people of Bangla Desh back under its control. As for the
legitimacy of the Government of Bangla Desh, the whole world is now aware that
it reflects the Will of the overwhelming majority of the people, which not many
Governments can claim to represent. In Jefferson's famous words to Governer
Morris, the Government of Bangla Dash is supported by the " Will of the
nation, substantially expressed ". Applying this criterion, the Military
regime in Pakistan, whom some States are so anxious to buttress, is hardly
representative of its people even in West Pakistan.
Now that
Bangla Desh Recognised
I am glad to inform the House that in the light of
the existing situation and in response to the repeated requests of the
Government of Bangla Desh, the Government of India have after the most careful
consideration, decided to grant recognition to the GANA PRAJATANTRI BANGLA
DESH.
It is our hope that with the passage of time more
nations will grant recognition and that the GANA PRAJATANTRI BANGLA DESH will
soon form part of the family of nations.
Our thoughts at this moment are with the father of
this new State-Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. I am sure that this House would wish me
to convey to Their Excellencies the Acting President of Bangla Desh and the
Prime Minister and to their colleagues our greetings and warm felicitations.
I am placing on the Table of the House copies of the
communications which we have received from the Government of Bangla Desh.
Hon'ble Members will be glad to know that the Government of Bangla Desh have
proclaimed their basic principles of State policy to be democracy, socialism,
secularism and the establishment of an egalitarian society in which there
would be no discrimination on the basis of race, religion, sex or creed. In
regard to foreign relations, the Bangla Desh Government have expressed their
determination to follow a policy of nonalignment, peaceful co-existence and
opposition to colonialism, racialism and imperialism in all its manifestations.
These are the ideals to which India also is dedicated.
Return of Refugees
The Bangla Desh Government have reiterated the r
anxiety to organise the expeditious return of their citizens who have found
temporary refuge in our country, and to restore their lands and belongings to
them. We shall naturally help in every way in these arrangements.
I am confident that in future the Governments and
the peoples of
Our good wishes to Bangla Desh.
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