বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (দ্বাদশ খণ্ড)/৫৫
| শিরোনাম | সূত্র | তারিখ |
|---|---|---|
| অস্ট্রীয় বেতারে প্রচারিত প্রধানমন্ত্রীর সাক্ষাৎকার | ভারত সরকারের পররাষ্ট্র মন্ত্রণালয় | ২৭ অক্টোবর, ১৯৭১ |
PRIME MINISTER INDIRA GANDHI’S INTERVIEW OF THE AUSTRIAN
RADIO, OCTOBER 27, 1971.
Q.-What expectations do you connect with your visit of Austria and your world tour generally?
A.- Only the expectation of understanding and friendship.
Q.-India and Pakistan are virtually on the threshold of war. What would happen If your visits in Austria and the other foreign capitals are unsuccessful?
A.-Well, as I said that I have just come to gain a greater understanding of the European situation and to try and give an understanding to the leaders and the people of the countries I visit about the situation in India and in Asia. So, there is no question of success or non-success on this. I will just say that I have not come with any goal of end in view.
Q.-What must happen in your opinion to avoid an armed conflict on the soid of the Indian sub-continent?
A.- Well, political settlement in East Bengal which is acceptable to the people and to the elected representatives of East Bengal.
Q.- Pakistan has accepted proposal of the United Nations to station U.N. civil personnel on Indian and Pakistani soil to observe the repatriation of refugees. Why has not India done so?
A. Firstly, we have got 10 people from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees already there in India visiting the camps and the border. Secondly, what are they going to supervise if they come to India? They have first to stop the further influx which is taking place at the rate of anything from 30,000 a day to 42,000 a day. There is no point in telling people to go back when everyday they see that 30,000 more people are coming with tales of atrocitics, repression and so on. Therefore, the first task of anybody who wants to interest himself in this matter is to prevent the further influx of refugees into India. Then only you can consider the next step.
Q.- The British Sunday paper “Observer” has called you a dove with sharp claws. What will happen if the situation worsens in East Pakistan; there is a famine to expect? What will happen and what will the situation be, at what point of the situation will it be unbearable for India?
A.- The situation is very grave today because we feel that our stability and security are threatened. We do not believe in war as a solution of problems. We have done and we shall continue to do everything possible to prevent the conflict from escalating. But we have to guard our national interest and security.
Q.-About three months ago there was a treaty signed between India and the Soviet Union and one article of this treaty calls for immediate measures to be taken in case of an attack or a threat of attack. Does that mean that the traditional policy of neutrality of India has been abolished now?
A.-We never had a policy of neutrality in the sense that you have it here in Austria. We had and we continue to have a policy of non-alignment, i.e., we believe that we should have freedom of judgment and action with regard to international affairs which we shall continue to judge on the merits of cach particular case and in the interest of our country and what we consider to be world peace. I do not think that the treaty with the Soviet Union in any way impinges on this freedom of ours.