পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (দ্বাদশ খণ্ড).pdf/৫১৭

8b> বাংরাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ দ্বাদশ খন্ড offensive against me, As soon as I have a little breathing time, I hope to write more fully about the question of Bangladesh. Here, I only wish to clarify my position and make an earnest appeal. I deny categorically that I have ever advocated a war with Pakistan. Indeed over since the lie first appeared in the press I have been contradicting it, but as it happens, the mud splashed in headline continues to stick. This is not only grossly unfair to me but also creates confusion in the public mind and thereby weakens the national effort so essential at this critical and fateful moment. The present crisis is so serious that either this nation shall emerge from it as a steeled, united, strong and respected power or as a demoralized, confused and Spineless weakling no longer to be taken seriously by the world. Therefore, let no one try to confuse the issues. What I have been advocating is not war against Pakistan but formal political, recognition of the People’s Government of Bangladesh. It is true that when questioned if recognition of the Government and open assistance to the Mukti Bahini may not provoke Pakistan to start a war with India, I have admitted that the rid was certainly there, but it had to be accepted. If this is tantamount to saying that India should declare war on Pakistan than I am surely a warmonger. But then heaven knows who in this country is not a warmonger. The only difference, as far as I have been able to understand, between people of my way of thinking and the Government of India is that while the latter is waiting for the right moment to arrive when recognition may be given, we are saying that the right moment is now. As for my wanting to embarrass or discredit the Prime Minister or to force her to give me a job, these are no vile suggestions to be taken notice of. But as they have appeared in print and are likely to confuse the odd reader let me make it clear that have no political axe to grind, nor am I a candidate for any office, and that I have personal affection and regard for the Prime Minister. In fact, "on this question of Bangladesh, my impression is that there is complete understanding between us, and that the public pressure that I am helping to build up in favour of immediate or early recognition can in no way embarrass her. The appeal that I wish to make is to keep party politics out of the Bangladesh issue. In her very first statement on the subject in the current session of the Lok Sabha, the Prime Minister had emphasised that "this situation cannot be tackled in partisan spirit or in terms of party politics". The unanimous resolution passed by the Lok Sabha was an excellent beginning of this approach. But unfortunately symptoms have appeared recently of a divisive, even partisan, approach. It is understandable that differences between parties, even on such a non-partisan issue as Bangladesh, might arise in course of time, particularly in view of Government’s continued hesitation to take effective action. There are two main blocks of opinion. One is represented by the ruling Congress which is not opposed to recognition in principle but wants in practice to leave it to the Prime Minister to those the appropriate though without making it clear what factors would determine the choice of the moment. The other block is constituted of almost the entire opposition