| শিরোনাম | সূত্র | তারিখ |
|---|---|---|
| বি-বি-সি’তে প্রচারিত মার্ক টালীর সাথে প্রধানমন্ত্রীর সাক্ষাৎকার[১] | ‘দি ইয়ার্স এণ্ডীভার’ | ১৬ নভেম্বর, ১৯৭১ |
A SERIOUS SITUATION
Question: Prime Minister, it has always been India’s point of view in this present crisis over the refugees, that other countries should put pressure on Pakistan to ameliorate the situation in East Pakistan so that the refugees can go back. What sort of pressure do you envisage that other countries could put on Pakistan?
The Prime Minister: Well, Pakistan has been getting help, military and economic, from other countries and I think that had this been made clear at the beginning that they would not get support in this adventure or misadventure that they are indulging in Bangladesh, this matter would never have gone so far.
Question: But do you think there is anything now that other countries can do?
The Prime Minister: Quite frankly, I don’t really see anything very specific myself, but I am one of those people who are born optimists and therefore I feel that the most insoluble problem has some solution if people are only willing to find it.
Question: It is perhaps a little unfair to ask you this before you have been to the United States, but are you particularly worried about the attitude of the American Government in this matter?
The Prime Minister: I wouldn’t isolate the American Government because I think that many Governments are hesitating to take a positive stand on this issue and because of the large number of refugees and the very real economic and other burdens on us, people’s attention is divided to the refugees. We are fun of sympathy for them and we do want help from them, but it would be very unfortunate if all the attention is on looking after the refugees rather than solving, removing the cause of why this exodus is taking place. Because as long as you don't deal with the cause you simply can’t do anything except provide a little bit more comfort to the refugees.
Question: What is the remedy for this cause?
The Prime Minister: Obviously to solve the problems of East Bengal.
Question: But could you be more specific, how would you see them solved?
The Prime Minister: Well, first I think it is for the people themselves and their elected leaders to decide what they want or what settlement they want. But so far as I am able to gather, I doubt very much if they will now settle for anything except their full rights.
- ↑ Interview of B.B.C. by Mark Tully, November, 2, 1971.
