পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (চতুর্দশ খণ্ড).pdf/৯৫৭

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925 বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ চতুর্দশ খন্ড country is prepared today to make any sacrifice to give as much blood and Sweat as necessary to meet any threat to its security." The Prime Minister who was given a tremendous ovation on her arrival in the city discussed the West Bengal situation with the Governor and the Chief Secretary and met some writers, film artists and other prominent citizens before leaving for Delhi, The meeting one of the biggest held in recent years was organized by the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee(R). Mr. Abdus Sattar Presided. Wearing a printed sari, Mrs. Gandhi addressed the vast gathering from a decorated 12 ft rostrum. About 200 Indian and foreign journalists attended the meeting. Cheers and claps greeted Mrs. Gandhi when she appeared on the dais. She was profusely garlanded by a number of organizations affiliated to the Congress (R). Patriotic songs by Mr. Hemanta Mukhopadhaya and other artists had by then created an atmosphere appropriate to the occasion. The Prime Minister, who spoke in Hindi for about an hour, said in the critical days ahead everyone would have to suffer but she was sure that the people here had the inherent strength to endure hardship and overcome difficulties. Mrs. Gandhi was aware that a war would cause immense suffering particularly for the poor. But if a war was essential to maintain territorial integrity it had to be fought. The youths and the women had a special responsibility to ensure that normal life was maintained. Such a role was played by women in England during the last war when all men below 45 were called out. She said the influx of refugees gave rise to a host of financial, administrative, social and political problems. But the problem that caused the utmost concern was the threat to "our security". Previously, the East Pakistan Rifles and the East Bengal Regiment used to be posted on the East Bengal border, while the BSF were on India's border. But after the EPR and the EBR men joined the Mukti Bahini the Pakistani troops were brought to the border in both East Bengal and the western sector. She said when the U.N. observers in Kashmir were told about the movement of Pakistani troops, they said the troops had been brought to the border for training exercises. "Who can believe this?" the Prime Minister asked. "It was not possible for us to believe this since we had been attacked thrice in the past by Pakistan." However, it was only after about 10 days that Indian troops were moved to the border the Prime Minister said. Continuing, she said it was strange that when Pakistan moved its troops up to the border, most of the Big Powers felt no concern about the danger to India's security. But when India moved its troops they raised a hue and cry and said peace was threatened in the sub-continent. She remarked that no responsible Government could take the risk of leaving the border unguarded at such a critical juncture.