| শিরোনাম | সূত্র | তারিখ |
|---|---|---|
| ভিয়েনায় রাষ্ট্রীয় ভোজসভায় প্রদত্ত প্রধানমন্ত্রীর ভাষণের সারাংশ | ভারত সরকারের পররাষ্ট্র মন্ত্রণালয় | ২৭ অক্টোবর, ১৯৭১ |
PRIME MINISTER INDIRA GANDHI’S SPEECH AT THE STATE
BANQUET IN VIENNA, OCTOBER 27, 1971.
Following are extracts from the speech:
India’s journey has not been easy, but step by difficult step we have gone ahead, belying the prophets of doom. Today, our other and not inconsiderable problems are overshadowed by events on our borders. In Austria, you have the experience of dealing with refugees. So, you can perhaps imagine the burden of looking after an influx which is of the size of Austria’s own population. But the problem of refugees is an incidental one. It can be solved only by going into the reasons which have compelled these helpless millions to leave their homes, to seek inadequate shelter and live in the greatest discomfort in over-crowded camps on our territory. Many of them, even during the heavy rains of the monsoon, were forced to sit under trees for days. The Indian tradition has always been to offer shelter to the persecuted. However, we cannot accept this charge as a permanent one.
At this moment, our main concern is not merely looking after a large number of people but the very real threat to our security and stability which this holds, which these developments have imposed on us. The people of India value the sympathy and understanding which we have received from Austria and are grateful for the support which you have extended to us. It is our sincere wish that Austro-Indian friendship will grow steadily over the coming years. Whether in international affairs or in domestic affairs, there are bound to be problems. Our own experience has been that no sooner do we solve one problem that ten new ones come to take its place. But we think this is part of life and we think that solving each problem itself give us the strength to face the others.
