পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (ত্রয়োদশ খণ্ড).pdf/৯৭২

944 ংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ ত্রয়োদশ খন্ড শিরোনাম সূত্র তারিখ ভারতীয় প্রতিনিধি মিঃ সমর সেনের বিবৃতি জাতিসংঘ ডকুমেন্টস ৬ ডিসেম্বর, ১৯৭১ STATEMENT BY MR. SAMAR SEN, REPRESENTATIVE OF INDIA December 6, 1971 I think I owe it to the Council to report certain developments which have taken place since we adjourned last night. About an hour and a half after that adjournment, the Prime Minister of India, Mrs. Gandhi, made a statement in our Parliament in New Delhi I think I can do no better to discharge my duty than to read her statement as she delivered it in the Indian Parliament. She said: "The valiant struggle of the people of Bangladesh in the face of tremendous odds has opened a new chapter of heroism in the history of freedom movements. Earlier, they had reported a democratic victory in their elections, and even the President of Pakistan had conceded the right of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to become the Prime Minister of Pakistan. We shall never know what intervened to transform this benevolent mood and realistic approach-if it really was that-to destruction and a posture of open hostilities and repression. "We are told that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his party, the Awami League, had planned a non-violent movement of resistance to the Government of West Pakistan, but were caught unawares and overtaken by a brutal military assault. They had no alternative but to declare for independence. The East Pakistan Rifles and the East Bengal Regiment became Mukti Fauj and latter Mukti Bahini, which was joined by thousands of young East Bengalis determined to sacrifice their lives for their freedom and right to fashion their future. The unity, determination and courage with which the entire population of Bangladesh is fighting have been reported by the world press. These events on our doorstep, and the resulting flood of refugees into our territory, could not but have far reaching repercussions on our country. It was natural that our sympathy should be with the people of Bangladesh in their just struggle, but we did not act precipitately in the matter of recognition. Our decisions were not guided merely by emotion but by assessment of the prevailing and future realities. With the unanimous revolt of the entire people of Bangladesh and the success of the struggle, it has become increasingly apparent that the so-called mother State of Pakistan is totally incapable of bringing the people of Bangladesh, back under its control. As for the legitimacy of the Government of Bangladesh, the whole world is now aware that it reflects the Will of the overwhelming majority of the people which not many governments can claim to represent. In Jeffersons's famous words to Governor Morris, the Government of Bangladesh is supported by 'the will of the nation substantially expressed.' "Applying this criterion, the military regime in Pakistan, whom some States are so anxious to buttress, is hardly representative of its people even for waging was against India. The normal hesitation on our part not to do anything which could come in the way