বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (দ্বাদশ খণ্ড)/৫৭
| শিরোনাম | সূত্র | তারিখ |
|---|---|---|
| ভিয়েনায় অস্ট্রিয়ান সোসাইটি ফর ফরেন পলিসি এ্যাণ্ড ইণ্টারন্যাশনাল রিলেশন্স-এ প্রধানমন্ত্রীর বক্তৃতার সারাংশ | ভারত সরকারের পররাষ্ট্র মন্ত্রণালয় | ২৮ অক্টোবর, ১৯৭১ |
PRIME MINISTER INDIRA GANDHI’S SPEECH AT THE AUSTRIAN
SOCIETY FOR FOREIGN POLICY AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS,
VIENNA, OCTOBER 28, 1971.
Following are extracts of the speech:
..All of you here are aware of the serious situation which has developed in the last seven months of our borders. Perhaps you know that the two parts of Pakistan are divided by a thousand miles of Indian territory. But that is no reason for the two parts not to get on. Why the situation arose was because the legitimate grievances of the people of East Bengal were not attended to in time. When the election took place, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman who was the leader of the Awami Party, had a six-point programme. It included greater autonomy for East Bengal but it did not ask for independence or session. They wanted to have better relations with India but not at the cost of Pakistan. All that they wanted was trade with India because the economy of East Pakistan has suffered greatly since this trade was stopped.
This programme was public and the election was fought on the basis of this programme and under the present regime. So one cannot say that anything underhanded or hidden was done. But when Sheikh Mujibur Rahman won the elections with the biggest majority that any election has given a national leader, there seems to have been some rethinking on the part of the government. One more thing I would like to point out. This is not a question of a minority wanting something from a majority. When you take the hole of Pakistan together, the people of East Bengal are in the majority. So, instead of democracy following its normal course, the period of negotiations saw the bringing over of more troops and the unleashing of a reign of terror such as has seldom been seen in the world. This is what has led to about 13 percent of the entire population of East Bengal leaving their homes and trying to take shelter in India. The size of the refugee population is about the size of your own country here. Among the victims are Hindus, Muslims. Christians and Buddhists. In the beginning the special victims of the persecution were scholars, authors and university men. We are told by people who have come from the other side that on the night of March 25, which was a Thursday, a special attack was made on Dacca University and over 300 people-students, faculty members and otherswere killed.
Through the centuries India has offered refuge to the persecuted, but this time the problem is different in size and character. The tensions created in our country are political and social no less than economic, but you can imagine what the economic burden is of looking after such a vast number of people. The threat to our security and stability is also very real.
Our progress has sharpened our people’s impatience. It is not true to say that the poor are poorer, because even the poor have advanced a bit. But it is true that they see their poverty with much sharper eyes. It is true that they are not prepared to wait any longer. We have taken the path of socialism because we feel there cannot be real democracy if there is a very great economic inequality. Even thought the Constitution gives equal rights, if a very large part of the population is not able to benefit from what the Constitution gives them, then democracy cannot be complete. So if India cannot maintain its stability. I think it does threaten Asia and it does threaten world peace as well. Governmental and parliamentary leaders from many countries have shown understanding of the issues involved, but many others are acting, may I say. with somewhat lack of insight.
I am thankful for the understanding and sympathy which I have found in Austria. Many ordinary people, a woman who sells vegetables, children, different groups like this, have come to me to express their sympathy, and even to give small donation. I am grateful for this sympathy and appreciate the fact that people should extend a hand of friendship at this difficult time. This is the basis of peace in the world: when we can regard the trouble of others as our own and try to help.