বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (দ্বাদশ খণ্ড)/১৫
| শিরোনাম | সূত্র | তারিখ |
|---|---|---|
| ‘যে কোন পরিণতির জন্য ভারত প্রস্তুত: পাকিস্তানের প্রতি প্রধানমন্ত্রী ইন্দিরা গান্ধীর সতর্কবাণী | দৈনিক ‘স্টেটসম্যান’ | ১৯ মে, ১৯৭১ |
MRS. GANDHI WARNS PAKISTAN
INDIA PREPARED FOR ANY EVENTUALITY
Big Powers told Of Refugee Problem
Ranikhet, May 18—The Prime Minister, Mrs. Indira Gandhi, today warned Pakistan that India was not deterred by any of its threats and said: “If a situation was forced on us, we are fully prepared to fight,” reports UNI.
The Prime Minister who was addressing public meeting, here, challenged the Pakistani claim that everything was Norman in East Bengal and said if that was the casc, Pakistan should immediately can back the refugees fleeing to India.
The refugees pouring into Indian border States had created a major problem for India. This would severely affect the country's economic, social and political life, she said.
Mrs. Gandhi appealed to the democratic nations to persuade Pakistan to stop its military atrocities in East Bengal. She wanted the international community to realize that what began as Pakistan’s internal problem was gradually becoming an internal problem for India. “The burden is heavy on us, but how can we ignore the helpless refugees?”
There was practically no room to accommodate the refugees. All the hospitals, schools and other public buildings in the border areas of West Bengal, Assam, Tripura and Meghalaya were flooded with refugees. Nevertheless, Indians would look after the refugees as best as they could. She wondered why help was not forthcoming from the rich nations for the victims of Pakistani Army.
PTI adds: India is understood to have informed western Powers that the situation in East Bengal was worsening day by day with social and economic consequences for India. Refugees bogged down on the Indian side of the border, were creating enormous problems for the country.
She told them that Pakistan had placed India in an extremely difficult position. No country had the right to behave in this way and unless the situation improved India would have to consider specific action.