বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (দ্বাদশ খণ্ড)/১২৯
| শিরোনাম | সূত্র | তারিখ |
|---|---|---|
| বিরোধী নেতাদের সাথে প্রধানমন্ত্রীর বৈঠক: বাংলাদেশকে আশু স্বীকৃতিদানের সম্ভাবনা নেই | স্টেটসম্যান | ৮ মে ১৯৭১ |
P.M MEETS OPPOSITIONS LEADERS
NO EARLY RECOGNITION OF BANGLADESH:
NEW DELHI, May 7-At an unscheduled meeting this evening the Union Cabinet considered the situation arising out of the near-unanimous Opposition demand for immediate recognition of Bangladesh. The discussion was detailed and frank, and at least some members are believed to have favored recognition. But no new decision was taken.
By implication the Government’s stand-against immediate recognitions-stays.
The Government has noted the new Pakistani propaganda line that the 15 million refugees who from East Bengal are Indian infiltrator who have been driven back to their country.
Earlier, despite Opposition pressure, the Government stock to the cautious line on Bangladesh-it will not recognize the freedom-fighters Government immediately but will prefer to “wait and watch the developments”.
This was clear from Mrs. Gandhi’s remarks at a three-hour conference with Opposition leaders today called to acquaint them with the latest developments and the Centers thinking on the subject: the Prime Minister denied the charge that the Governments stand was “born out weakness” or that it was influenced by Pakistan’s war threats or by fears of a confrontation with China. “There are more weighty reasons for it”, she said, but did not elaborate.
India, Mr. Gandhi told the conference, had sounded friendly Governments on the recognition issue but none favored immediate action. This she implied had influenced the Governments thinking.
The Soviet Union, it is learnt, is one of the several “friendly” powers with whom New Delhi has been in much Aid although Moscow seemed to accept India's assessment of the East Bangal situation, It reportedly disfavored the idea of granting immediate recognition the Bangladesh Governments.
Like the Prime Minister’s stand, Opposition pressure was on the expected lines. Most Opposition leaders except Dr. Karni Singh of Bikaner and Mr. Mohammed Ismail, the Muslim league president wanted immediate recognition and took the Government to task for delaying it. Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, the Jana Sangh President, was most forthright while the DMK’s Mr. Monoharan was cautious. The critics wanted India to give a lead to the other Governments instead of being influenced by them.
Because of historical and geographical factors, as also the genocide being committed by Pakistan in East Bangal, India had special responsibility, they felt. Typifying their impatience was Mr. Vajpayees’s complaint that India had let down the people of Bangladesh.
Dr. Kami Singh and Mr. Ismail on the other hand, spoke of complications that could follow the recognition of Bangladesh. Mr. Manoharan wanted a thorough study of the move’s implications.
International Norms
Mrs. Gandhi sought to project the Bangladesh issue in a broader perspective leaving aside the issue of recognition, India, she said, had tried to help the people of East Bengal in their struggle for freedom in all possible ways subject to international norms and behavior. Pakistan, she regretted, had resorted to lies to malign India and to mislead world opinion about the reality in East Bengal. She cautioned them against Pakistan’s attempts to create communal tension in the country and sought the Opposition leaders help in forestalling such trouble.
Rehabilitation of refugees and the urgency of seeking help from international organizations also figured in the discussions. Mrs. Gandhi disclosed that over 1500000 evacuees had evacuees had crossed into India. Of these 50% had been settled in camps and the rest were lining in the open. This figure did not include those who had gone to Bihar and other States. The Government was aware of the socioeconomic implications of such huge influx of evacuees and was doing its best in looking after them, she said.
Evacuees Not Refugees
However she made it clear that those who had come over to India will have to return to their country as soon as the war ended there. For that reason, she preferred to describe them as evacuees and not refugees.
Mr. Swaran Singh, too, defended the Government’s decision not recognize the Bangladesh Government immediately. There was no alternative to a “Wait and see” policy under the present circumstances, he said. As regards suggestions that India should take up the issue at the U. N., she explained that the Government had sought to rouse the conscience of other nations and that efforts were being made to involve international agencies in the rehabilitation of the evacuees.
Besides Mrs. Gandhi and Mr. Swaran Singh, Mr. Jagjivan ram, Mr. Chavan, Mr. Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed. Mr. Raj Bahadur, Mr. R.K. Khadilkar and Mr. Om Mehta was represented by the Government.
All the Opposition leaders, except the Swatantra representative attended the meeting. The leaders of the Swatantra Party had written to the Prime Minister expressing their inability to attend the meeting as they had other engagements. Among those who attended were Mr. Indrajit Gupta and S. M. Banerjee of the CPI, Mr. A. K. Gopalan (CPI-M), Mr. N. G. Goray and Mr. Samar Guha of the PSP. Mr. Manoharan (DMK), Mr. Farnk Anthony (Ind). Mr. Vajpayee (J. S.), Dr Karni Singh and Mr. Ismail.