পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (দ্বাদশ খণ্ড).pdf/৭৩৭

"ΗΣ Σ বাংরাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ দ্বাদশ খন্ড effective action to put them down. I do not think the hon. Members expect us to go into the details of this matter, but I can assure the Mouse that we are vigilant about the danger and we are taking steps to meet it. SHRI CHITTA BASU (West Bengal), Sir, I think the shelling by Pakistan is not intermittent but has become a regular and daily feature in particular areas, namely, Nadia and 24-Parganas in West Bengal, Tripura, Meghalaya and Assam. From all these things it appears to me that the Pakistani Army is determined to carry out its attack on the eastern region in order to cut off Assam. Tripura and West Bengal from the country because all these areas are very sensitive like the neck of the body. In view of this, may I know from the hon. Minister what particular steps the G Government has so far taken with regard to meeting this determined aggressive posture and acts of aggression from the side of Pakistan, particularly in this region? Further, I would also like to know whether it is also a fact that there has been continuous shelling for a few days in Boira, a part of 24-Parganas in West Bengal and, for the last few days, people numbering about 10,000, as is reported, have started leaving the particular area? Is the Government aware of the fact and, if so, what particular measures are being taken in those very sensitive areas to build up the morale; of the people, to boost up the morale of the people and to create conditions by which the people of the area could meet the aggressive offensive of Pakistan? SHRI VIDYA CHARAN SHUKLA: Sir, it is a fact that Pakistan has been regularly shelling certain sectors of our Eastern border, but it is not a fact that the morale of our population is by any standard low as might be implied by the statement and the question of the hon. Minister that there are further efforts needed to boost up the morale. The morale is good and the defensive action that we have taken and the offensive that we have mounted, whenever there was any shelling, has been very effective. We are completely aware of the situation there and, as I said earlier, we have taken the necessary steps that are called for in the situation. I do not think I should go into the details of that, Sir. [MR. DEPUTY CHAIRMAN in the Chair] SHRI BHUPESH GUPTA (West Bengal): I think the hon. Minister was quite balanced in what he spoke. There is a tendency on the part of the people in the Defense Ministry on such occasions to become Napoleons and I am glad that they are not trying to be Napoleons here. Our aim is not to start a war or to invite a war; it is for Pakistan to decide what they are going to do. We have to defend the country; we have no other aim except to defend the country. SHRI RAJNARAIN (Uttar Pradesh): Sabotage. SHRIBHUPESH GUPTA: You may say sabotage; do you want to go to war with Pakistan? DR. BHAIMAHAVIR: Don't you have any concern for the Bangladesh people? SHRI BHUPESH GUPTA: Of course we have concern but those who egg on India to go to war with Pakistan are not helping the Bangladesh struggle; they are only sabotaging the Bangladesh struggle. We should support the Bangladesh struggle in every way; we