বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (দ্বাদশ খণ্ড)/৭২
| শিরোনাম | সূত্র | তারিখ |
|---|---|---|
| কোলকাতার জনসভায় প্রধানমন্ত্রী ইন্দিরা গান্ধীর বক্তৃতা[১] | “দি ইয়ার্স অফ এণ্ডীভার” | ৩ ডিসেম্বর, ১৯৭১ |
WE SHALL SUCCEED
YOU ARE ALL aware that we are facing a new crisis. The people of Bengal and the rest of the country had stood by us and returned us to power in the last general election. We had imagined that all obstacles in the way of our progress had been removed and we shall work hard to build up a strong country. But soon after, a tragic event happened which cast a big burden on our people, although we were in on way involved in it. In the beginning, it was purely an economic burden. The large influx of refugees from East Bengal seriously affected the lives of the people in West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura and increased their hardships. We imagined that we shall have to bear this burden for only a few days and we shall be able to do so easily with the help of other countries. But the help we received was meagre compared to what was necessary. If some people offered help, they were not in the least worried about the causes of the crises why a huge mass of people were quitting their homes and coming to us like a river in flood. No disease can be cured unless it is correctly diagnosed. What is to be done if, without caring to find out the cause of the influx, we try to stop it? We told the truth and others agreed with us, but nobody did anything in the matter.
To understand the present crises, we have to go into its historical background and find out how Pakistan was formed. The battle for freedom was fought in the whole country-also in the region now called Pakistan. Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, better known as Frontier-Gandhi, and Abdul Samad khan, who was called Baluch Gandhi, took part in the fight for freedom. But when Pakistan was formed, it was not these leaders of the people who came to power. In India, the freedom fighters won the elections and set up their Government. But in Pakistan. They remained behind prison walls and those who were cooperating with the British set up their Government. They held positions in the Army or other offices. There was a basic difference in our ideologies. We were anxious then and are so even now that we should have the best of friendly relations with our new neighbor-now that Pakistan had come into being. It is not good for any country to be always quarrelling with a neighbor. But whenever we extended our hand of friendship, we were faced with a closed fist on the other side and also an atmosphere of tension. We believe that the reason for this was that several countries were encouraging Pakistan to do so. If the big powers, which were friendly to Pakistan, had advised it in the very beginning not to fight with India, Pakistan would not have taken up the posture of war. Pakistan had neither the strength nor the courage to go to war with us. But they did so because they were getting help and war materials from abroad. Even when they went to war with us. they got all encouragement from their friends. They were not branded as aggressors with the result that they did not change their ways. The result of all this was that despite its friendship with Big powers. Pakistan could not become a strong power. It grew weaker.
We are all Indians though we speak different languages and profess different faiths. To whatever state we belong, we are all citizens of this country engaged in the common endeavor of taking it forward towards progress. What binds men of different religions, habits, dress and languages are some high ideals. Religion and language cannot bind any people in the world of today. We have to get over these. Religion is good and everyone must adhere to his religion. But you cannot build up a nation and keep the people united, on the basis of religion. We said this at the time of the formation of Pakistan but neither the British nor others listened to us them and Pakistan came into being. But we saw from the very beginning that in Pakistan, the people of one religion committed atrocities on the minorities belonging to a different religion.
Another thing that was happening in Pakistan and which the world overlooked was that even those who were in a religious majority in the country were being oppressed. We knew it but we could not interfere in the affairs of another country. But the situation could not last long and in the end this has weakened Pakistan. If Pakistan has become weak, it is not because we wanted it. It has become weak because other nations helped it in pursuing wrong policies, which were probably in their own interest and not in the interest of Pakistan. We had leaders who followed policies which were in the national interest and stuck to them firmly.
Our development plans are in progress but, in the meanwhile, a big burden has been cast on us. The burden is economic because the number of refugees is very large. The influx has also created social, administrative and political problems. But the most important thing is the danger it poses to our security. It might develop into a big danger.
You are aware that we have rehabilitated all the refugees who came to us so far. We did so although we are a poor country and received meagre help from outside. We become worried as the danger to our security slowly increased. Across the border between west Bengal and East Bengal, there was the Border security force on our side and East Bengal or the East Pakistan Rifles on the other side but they had changed their name and called themselves the Mukti Bahini.
At this stage, Pakistan moved its forces towards our borders; in the west they moved further towards Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujarat. When their forces reached the Kashmir border, we drew the attention of U.N. observers towards this. They told us that the Pakistani forces were carrying out training exercises. Who could believe it? Could a country, which had been the victim of Pakistani aggression thrice, believe it? The danger to our security increased but we took no steps for ten days. After ten days, we also moved our forces forward. As long as we had not moved our forces towards our borders, no country in the world, big or small, took note of the presence of Pakistani forces on our borders. They were not worried about the danger posed to our security and that they should do something. No opinions were expressed about it. But when our forces moved forward, not on another’s territory but on our own, some world powers raised a furore that peace was in peril and they began saying that both the countries should withdraw their forces. Now could we agree to this? No Government with any sense of responsibility, no minister or any officer could endanger the security of the country and its borders. We asked why the Pakistani forces had been moved to our borders and whether it did not involve a risk to our security. If we withdrew our forces, they had to be moved far from the borders where our cantonments and other arrangements exist. But the cities and cantonments of Pakistan are quite close to their borders. If they withdraw just a little, they will still be in a advantageous position. They can reach the borders quickly whenever they want to attack us. We cannot do so. Who are there to guarantee that if we are attacked, they would help us and get us back quickly the land occupied by the aggressor? Nobody is prepared to consider this aspect of the matter. They all say that the forces must be withdrawn. We do not say “No” to this demand. We have suggestions make. But how far is it proper that only the suggestions made by the other party should be accepted? Our suggestion is that the Pakistani forces should be withdrawn from East Bengal. It is their arrival and their stay which has resulted in a reign of terror there and the influx of refugees into this country. If they leave East Bengal, the fighting will stop immediately. But no one is prepared to think on these lines.
We were also told to agree to have U.N. observers on our eastern border as well. As far as I am aware, a few of them were there. Possibly they are still there. But the question is why should they be posted there? Will their presence ensure the return of the refugees? The refugees say they will not go back unless there is complete peace in Bangladesh. Now can we ask them to go when we see there is a war in progress there, people are being massacred, woman are being tortured and one village after another is being set on fire? How can we ask them to return under these conditions? The first duty of the world community as well as our own is to try to establish peace there. We waited for many days, waited to see if other countries could help in the matter and stop the reign of terror.
I visited some countries in Europe and the United States. I was assured everywhere that they agreed with me on the need of a political solution to restore peace in Bangladesh and to ensure the return to the refugees. They said they were stressing this aspect of the problem. But nothing came out of it. We do not threaten, nor do we raise a hue and cry. Bt we know what is in our national interest and we are not going to give it up. The people of East Bengal are shedding their blood to achieve freedom. This has happened in the past in our country as well. A large number of farmers, intellectuals and members of the Bar sacrificed their lives for freedom. Now if some countries want that we should not defend our freedom and allow them to carry out their own evil designs. We cannot be the victims of their evil, designs.
Every citizen of this country has to share this burden, be the young or old, man or woman. We have to share all hardships and meet the danger. Although the whole country has to bear the burden, you in Bengal have to heap a little more of it. We should be prepared for whatever happened.
I assure you that I do not want war. I earnestly desire peace. I know what war is and how it affects the people, especially the weaker section of the community. I detest war. It is my sincere wish that I should not be instrumental in bringing about war. Nehru talked much about peace but even he said that if we have to meet any attack on our freedom we must do so with all our might. some foreign papers have described me as stubborn. I am stubborn in matters affecting our security and, in my opinion, the massacre going on in Bangladesh must stop and peace restored. The annihilation of the 75 million people of Bangladesh is not in our national interest. Therefore, we have to ensure that the terrible atrocitics going on there must stop. This is not being stubborn. There is no alternative to this if we consider our own national interests. You are aware that we have taken some steps only after calm consideration. We have done nothing is haste. We are doing only what is proper and in our interest. Whenever some foreign power talked to us, it was only after careful deliberation that we refused to accept any suggestion made and we accepted what we could. We are faced with a crises and there must be enthusiasm among the people. We have also to see how to utilize this enthusiasm to meet change before us. Any army must fight to be in victorious. This will not be possible if our industries and school are closed down and the working of our hospitals is affected. If we want to be truly victorious, the citizens of Calcutta must ensure that the work in towns and villages is carried on more efficiently and with greater vigour.
It is testing time for our country but I am confident that we shall succeed. Whatever the nature of the fight, we shall deal with it firmly and with a cool head so that the promises we have made to the people are fulfilled and we continue our march towards progress. However great the danger, however great the pressure, we have to move forward even if we are alone. The people who live near our borders know that the Pakistanis have been firing on Agartala and other places. Our hospitals and full of injured people. Our hearts go to them and I express gratitude to them on my behalf and on behalf of the nation. We are proud of their courage and we hope that their morale will continue to be high. Although they are now no longer in uniform, they are our soldiers. We are proud of their bravery and enthusiasm.
- ↑ From a public speech at Calcutta, December 3, 1971.