Because of historical and geographical factors, as also the genocide being committed by Pakistan in East Bangal, India had special responsibility, they felt. Typifying their impatience was Mr. Vajpayees’s complaint that India had let down the people of Bangladesh.
Dr. Kami Singh and Mr. Ismail on the other hand, spoke of complications that could follow the recognition of Bangladesh. Mr. Manoharan wanted a thorough study of the move’s implications.
International Norms
Mrs. Gandhi sought to project the Bangladesh issue in a broader perspective leaving aside the issue of recognition, India, she said, had tried to help the people of East Bengal in their struggle for freedom in all possible ways subject to international norms and behavior. Pakistan, she regretted, had resorted to lies to malign India and to mislead world opinion about the reality in East Bengal. She cautioned them against Pakistan’s attempts to create communal tension in the country and sought the Opposition leaders help in forestalling such trouble.
Rehabilitation of refugees and the urgency of seeking help from international organizations also figured in the discussions. Mrs. Gandhi disclosed that over 1500000 evacuees had evacuees had crossed into India. Of these 50% had been settled in camps and the rest were lining in the open. This figure did not include those who had gone to Bihar and other States. The Government was aware of the socioeconomic implications of such huge influx of evacuees and was doing its best in looking after them, she said.
Evacuees Not Refugees
However she made it clear that those who had come over to India will have to return to their country as soon as the war ended there. For that reason, she preferred to describe them as evacuees and not refugees.
Mr. Swaran Singh, too, defended the Government’s decision not recognize the Bangladesh Government immediately. There was no alternative to a “Wait and see” policy under the present circumstances, he said. As regards suggestions that India should take up the issue at the U. N., she explained that the Government had sought to rouse the conscience of other nations and that efforts were being made to involve international agencies in the rehabilitation of the evacuees.
Besides Mrs. Gandhi and Mr. Swaran Singh, Mr. Jagjivan ram, Mr. Chavan, Mr. Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed. Mr. Raj Bahadur, Mr. R.K. Khadilkar and Mr. Om Mehta was represented by the Government.
All the Opposition leaders, except the Swatantra representative attended the meeting. The leaders of the Swatantra Party had written to the Prime Minister expressing their inability to attend the meeting as they had other engagements. Among those who attended were Mr. Indrajit Gupta and S. M. Banerjee of the CPI, Mr. A. K. Gopalan (CPI-M), Mr. N. G. Goray and Mr. Samar Guha of the PSP. Mr. Manoharan (DMK), Mr. Farnk Anthony (Ind). Mr. Vajpayee (J. S.), Dr Karni Singh and Mr. Ismail.
