then to some of the press correspondents. The commander conveyed the greetings of Bangladesh to the people of India and urged Mr. Mukherjee to send medical relief".
The very next day (30 March) the State Finance Minister of the Indian Punjab, Mr. Balwant Singh, in open disregard of India's own laws which prohibit the advocacy of secession in any manner, lent public support to secessionists in Pakistan and called for the recognition of the non-existent government of “Bangladesh." The Chief Minister of the Indian State of Kerala, Mr. Achutta Menon expressed similar sentiments, followed by formal resolutions in support of Bangladesh' passed by several Indian State Assemblies, including those of Tamil Nadu, Bihar West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Rajsthan, Uttar Pradesh. Gujrat and Tripura. The Deputy Chief Minister of West Bengal went so far as to announce recognition of Bangladesh' in anticipation of Indian Central Government's decision.
Meanwhile a resolution was moved by the Indian Prime Minister herself on the situation in East Pakistan and passed by both Houses of Indian Parliament, which was openly an outrageous and hostile act against Pakistan. The resolution expressed “profound sympathy and solidarity with people of East Bengal" as she preferred to called East Pakistan and assured them (the secessionists) that their struggle will receive the whole hearted sympathies and support of the people of India.
Speaking on the resolution, Indian Foreign Minister Swaran Singh rejected Pakistan's stand that the crisis in East Pakistan was an internal affair of Pakistan. This statement belied their own previous stand which they took on President Yahya's earlier speech of 1 March. Indian reaction to the President's speech was reported by All India Radio on 2 March in these words: “An official spokesman of the External Affairs Ministry said in New Delhi that India regards the developments in Pakistan as purely an internal affair of that country. We have no desire to interfere or got involved in their domestic affairs". This myth of India's neutrality was soon exploded, and India came out in her true colors.
The same day when the Indian Prime Minister's resolution was adopted by the Indian Parliament. Reuter reported that “the people of West Bengal observed' a total strike to express 'solidarity' with East Bengalis (East Pakistanis). The most prominent slogan heard in Calcutta was;9ipar Bangla, Opar Bangla, Dooye Miley Soonar Bangla' (This side Bengal. That side Bengal, Both together golden Bengal)".
Supply of Arms to Rebels by India
In response to the Indian Prime Minister's appeal of 4 April for raising funds to help Mujib, Government-backed committees were soon set up all over India. They started collecting contributions for providing financial and material assistance to secessionists in East Pakistan. In Bihar State, Chief Minister Karpuri Thakur announced that his government would contribute Rs. 25 lakhs (Rs. 2.5 million) towards this fund, and several organizations started collecting funds. On 6 April 1971, the Indian Nation, Bombay, quoted Chief Minister Thakur as reaffirming “his determination to lend best possible help including supply of arms and ammunition to the liberation forces of Bangladesh". Mr. Thakur added: “Whatever the consequences may follow, I am firm on
