| 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.
