945 ংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ ত্রয়োদশ খন্ড of peaceful solution, or which might be construed as an intervention, has lost significance. The people of Bangladesh battling for their very existence and the people of India fighting to defeat aggression now find themselves partisans in the same cause. 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 Bangladesh, the Government of India have, after most peaceful consideration, decided to grant recognition to the People's Republic of Bangladesh. It is our hope that with the passage of time more nations will grant recognition and that the People's Republic of Bangladesh will soon form a 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 Bangladesh and the Prime Minister, and their colleagues, our greetings and warm felicitations. I am placing on the table of the House, copies of communications which we have received from the Government of Bangladesh. The honorable members will be glad to know that the Government of Bangladesh 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. With regard to foreign relations the Bangladesh Government have expressed their determination to follow a policy of non- alignment. peaceful co-existence and opposition to colonialism, racialism and imperialism in all its manifestations. These arc the ideals to which India also is dedicated. The Bangladesh Government have reiterated their anxiety to organize the expeditious return of the 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 peoples of India and Bangladesh who share common ideals and sacrifices, will forge a relationship based on the principles of mutual respect for each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, non- interference in internal affairs, equality and mutual benefits. Thus, working together for freedom and democracy, we shall set an example of good-neighborliness which alone can ensure peace and stability and progress in this region. Our good wishes to Bangladesh." Now, I read this statement in full because I believe it is important enough to be recorded in full, and for people to hear it in full. But more important than that, this recognition of Bangladesh has put the relationship of India to Bangladesh in a completely different legal, political and constitutional context; and I would request the Council to realize this new development before any decision is taken. Since we have now recognized Bangladesh, I think I should take a few minutes of the Council's time to go back-not too much, but a little bit—into the history. It has been said that the autonomy movement led by Sheikh, Mujibur Rahman soon became a movement for independence, and that this would have brought about the disintegration of Pakistan. May I just read a very short paragraph from Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's presentation of the six-point programme which is the formula for autonomy. This is what he says:
