Bangladesh might be assuaged. A small step taken today can ensure that they could be good friends in the future. This would come about only if they withdraw from Bangladesh and return to their homes. I do not know how far all this could go through. Ilowever, I understand that they really want do so, and have even sent messages in this connection. But it is the people in power in West Pakistan, sitting quietly in their homes who are not permitting them to return. On the contrary, India is being accused of all that is happening in Bangladesh.
Some officials of the United Nations wanted get out of Dacca safely. They requested us to stop bombing of city so that they could easily get out. We told them that India agreed to their suggestion and would enable them to leave Dacca safely. We also told them that if they wanted our help they should come to Calcutta and leave in safety from there. We had agreed to bring them to Calcutta and assured them that they would not be in any danger. But when the aero planes flew to Dacca to bring the U.N Personnel the authorities at the airport did not allow the planes to land. And it was stated that India first permitted their evacuation and, later, refused to let the planes land. False propaganda is being carried n that India went back on her word and she did not allow the planes to land Event effort is being made to make foreigners in Dacca blame India for the discomforts caused to them. We, on our part, have done the best to ensure that they are not put to any trouble and are safely evacuated.
I hope you all know what you have to do in the present circumstances. You have to ensure that prices do not rise and that there is not hoarding. People should purchase only what they need and not spend unnecessarily. All of us, men, women and children, are in a way soldiers and we have to see that the country remains united and strong and that there is no waste. We shall get over these dark days only if we exercise restraint and austerity.
I am very sad that one of our old comrades of the freedom struggle, the Kashmir Chief Minister, Shri Ghulam Mohammad Sadiq, died today. He had been ailing for several months, and had been seriously ill for the past two weeks. His death is a great loss to us. I met him first in 1953, and he was among the handful who fought for freedom in Kashmir, first against the Maharaja and the Britishers and afterwards against the Pakistanis who attacked Kashmir. In the critical period, before the arrival of the Indian army, he was among these handful of Kashmiri who prepared their people to fight the Pakistani army and irregulars. They rallied the people, men. women, young and old and told them of what India stood for. Kashmir chose to be part of India when the time came them accept the leadership of the Muslim league and to become an Islamic State, a communal theocratic state. But they stuck firmly to their principles. Which are the same as our own. They are taking Kashmir forward towards these ideals. We are very sad that at the time when we most needed Shri Sadiq's advice and wisdom, he had left us. However, I am sure that the people of Kashmir who loved him and honored him, will adhere to the path shown by him and that the people of all religions will live in amity in Kashmir and eradicate the poverty and backwardness of their state.
Tragedies like the present one have occurred in the lives of individuals and nations. The test at such moments is whether we go under, or we take them in our stride.
