বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (দ্বাদশ খণ্ড)/৬৬
| শিরোনাম | সূত্র | তারিখ |
|---|---|---|
| ‘বিশ্ব এখন বাংলাদেশ সংকট সম্পর্কে আগের চাইতে বেশী সচেতন-বিদেশ সফর শেষে দিল্লীতে প্রধানমন্ত্রী ইন্দিরা গান্ধীর মন্তব্য | দি স্টেটসম্যান | ১৪ নভেম্বর, ১৯৭১ |
WORLD UNDERSTANDS BANGLADESH CRISIS BETTER NOW
(From Our Political Correspondent)
New Delhi. Nov. 13-On return from her Three-week tour abroad, Mrs. Gandhi said here this Morning that while she was “On the whole” satisfied with her talks with world leaders, she could not say how effective any intervention by them would be in resolving the Bangladesh issue without a war. Shortly after touching down at Palam, the Prime Minister told Reporters that the world, including the USA had a better appreciation of the seriousness of the crisis in the sub-continent.
The question of a war between India and Pakistan, she said, was exercising the minds of the world leaders just as it was exercising her own. She had been kept informed of the border situation but a fresh assessment would have to depend on a discussion with her colleagues.
Mrs. Gandhi disagreed with foreign Press comments that there had been no meeting ground between her and President Nixon. This conclusion was not entirely correct. Significantly, however, the Prime Minister added that she was not very clear on whether the U.S. embargo on arms sales would apply also to third party sales of American arms. She was also uncertain of how to interpret Press reports of the U.S. Secretary of State Mr. William Roger’s statement that the USA would keep our of an Indo-Pakistani conflict.
About Chinese intention, she said both the Press and herself had to depend on published material. She felt that there was a shift in Chinese attitudes. This was being reflected in Press reports and some other recent “happenings”. She gave the impression that Mr. Bhutto’s mission had not achieved much.
A question by a foreign correspondent about the possibility of compromise on the refugee problem irked the Prime Minister. The questioner suggested that because most of the refugees were Hindus India could accept them. Raising her voice Mrs. Gandhi said there was no reason why any country ought to accept foreign nationals who had not left their country of their own accord but had been pushed out merely because they had voted it, a democratic and constitutional manner. Besides India was a secular country and “we make no distinction between people of different religions”.
While she could not gather any information about he fate of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Mrs. Gandhi, asserted that it was unlikely that Awami League leaders would agree to talks with the military regime without him assuming the General Yahya Khan had in fact suggested such talks. Only elected leaders could accept or reject a solution. Asked how long it would take the world community or India or Pakistan to bring about a political solution. Mrs. Gandhi said one cannot set precise dates on such issues.
She had agreed with Chancellor Brandt that he or other world leaders-either individually or collectively-could try to in Press on the Pakistan military rulers the likely consequences in the absence of a political solution. She had cmphasized, that there could be a political solution only if it was acceptable by the people of Bangladesh. Nothing else would be lasting.
She had not discussed any procedural arrangements for the return of the refugees. It was true that she had referred in some of her utterances abroad to the seriousness of the situation in the eastern region; Basically what was happening on the western borders was not affecting the East Bengal situation. Unless the Bangladesh problem was solved, tension would persist.
President Giri and Mrs. Gandhi’s Cabinet colleagues were present at the airport to greet her. There was a large turn-out of members of the diplomatic corps and Parliament. Apart from the large crowd which cheered her at the airport she was received enthusiastically by crowds at the wayside during her drive to her residence.