পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (দ্বাদশ খণ্ড).pdf/১৫৫

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বাংরাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ দ্বাদশ খণ্ড
১২৯

 The Prime Minister: Well, it is very tense, as I said, it is extremely serious.

 Question: And is the momentum towards war, do you feel, still gathering speed, or is it being slowed down?

 The Prime Minister: Let us put this in perspective. War is an evil thing. India has always stood out against war, no matter where it took place. But there are things which are more important, and today we feel that not only for the sake of the Indian people but for the peace in Asia and world peace, stability, integrity and the security of India, is of first importance. I don’t think anything should divert the world's attention from this point. This is the major point.

 Question: Yes, I was really putting to you that there seems an inevitability about the way things are going-a slide towards war, which-as you say-you are deeply concerned to avoid-at all costs if you can, but is the situation-is it that-is there a momentum towards war, which you feel that you cannot yet arrest?

 The Prime Minister: We have arrested it. If I had not been calm and restrained, the fighting would have been bad. What word have I uttered, or anybody from my Government for that matter, which could be constructed as a threat or as a push towards war? But if you look at some statements on the other side, there is no doubt whatsoever, absolutely Public.

 Question: Is there a risk that you will be attacked by Pakistan, in your view now, at this moment?

 The Prime Minister: One just can’t say, and it also depends on what you consider an aggression. In 1965, thousands of infiltrators were sent and they said they didn’t commit aggression but after all it was an aggression when they were obviously there to occupy the place and make way for the army.

 Question: Do you believe that conditions are favorable to secure the return of the refugees by tougher action, either diplomatic or in the last resort, military? Are the conditions now favorable for that?

 The Prime Minister: I don’t know where conditions are ever favorable to this. Sometimes things just have to be done. We in India are determined that we are not going to be saddled with Pakistan problems. They had a problem-very large number of persons who voted against the present regime, in a free election held under the supervision of the present Government of West Pakistan, who voted democratically, have been either killed or pushed across the border. Now, why should we receive another country's problem like this? Would this make sense to anybody?

 Question: But how great is your determination to do this and do you have some time in mind within which you must do it to make it credible?

 The Prime Minister: I am not interested in making anything credible. I am interested in the future and the present for that matter, of my country and my people. Now they have faith in me, and I cannot betray that faith.