There took place spectacles which at least a country which sweats by the name of Gandhi should salute in the manner that is called for at the present moment of time.
You know how when the hartal took place in Dacca and the rest of East Bengal from the Chief Justice down to the Governor's cook, everyday stopped work. The person who was appointed Military Administrator or in some such comparable position was not given his oath of office, because the Chief Justice refused. We have never seen in history an example of a united people functioning in this manner, determined to go ahead in a peaceful and truly democratic spirit in order to bring about a change in their condition, the condition which they say is one of servitude to West Pakistan.
I am not entering into the merits of the matter, but we should all listen to the cri de Coeur the cry from the heart which comes from East Bengal, the cry of agony. It is not the sort of agony which is weak and humiliating. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman said, Bengalis know how to die like human beings. And, that is why they are fighting back. 70,000 troops are now engaged in the task of crushing the resistance of the people of East Bengal. In this posture of things, when in East Bengal a new precedent has taken place in the history of constitutional progress-You and the Deputy Speaker were talking about new parliamentary perspectives-I hope you and I learn a lesson from East Bengal, where a revolution by consent is sought to be brought about and that revolution by consent is thwarted by interests who are now at the beck and call of people whom we know very well. This sort of things is happening. They want to make our country another battling ground for interests which want of fish in troubled water. Here is East Bengal which wants autonomy. Here is East Bengal which wants an end to the oppression which has been exercised on it by certain interests in West Pakistan. Here is East Bengal which wanted autonomy for itself. It is being crushed. 70 million people are being sought to be crushed and we are here only talking about the embarrassment which might take place on account of something happening in a neighboring country. There is not a word in the Government statement of genuine feeling a regard to people who are our own people. I speak the same language as the language which is spoken in East Bengal, not me alone, but so many of us here. And, we are ashamed that the Government of this country makes a statement which makes no reference to the blood relationship which exists between our two countries. At this rate, this Government would go ahead in such a manner that in the north-eastern parts of our country. I include in it the area where Dr. Swell is resident-things might happen which might create a different sort of history than what is being looked forward to by certain people on the other side.
I wish, therefore, Government takes a more understanding view of the situation. I wish Government says, this kind of genocide against 70 million people will not be permitted. I wish Government to announce here that they would go to the United Nations or whatever other forum their Constitution might provide. Let them tell us that they are going to those forums in order to put up the case of the people of East Bengal and we shall do so because they and we are one. We are one people. Mujibur Rahman has said so many grand things about the normalization of relations and restoration of friendship between India and Pakistan. He did not want the demoralization of Pakistan; he wanted only the arade and other friendly relations between our two countries should be resumed. The blackguards in that part of the country, the perfidious people no conduct negotiations
