2008-07-09T11:22:00.000-07:00

The main question today is that communal tension has grown and the policy of those across our border is to do everything possible to increase it. It is, therefore, a very heavy responsibility on the people of all parties here to see that Pakistan's rulers did not succeed in the nefarious intention. This really needs political education in the wider sense of the world all over the country, and with special attention to those areas, which are prone to communal tension. It also, of course, needs political education of those areas where refugee camps are being set up.

Political education is not only concerned without own view on secularism but also putting the whole story of Bangla Desh in correct perspective, because when the focus is given that it is mainly the Hindus are being pushed out. Communal tendencies grow. If the correct perspective is put across, namely, that it has nothing to do with the communal problem, that is a national problem for Bangladesh, that would be the right education. If they fail into the trap of trying to bring blame on Indian Muslims for what is being done by the military regime in East Pakistan, then we would only be playing Pakistan's game and we would be Setting down our friends in Bangladesh and weakening our own country. So what you have to do is to make out a plan for conducting this political education.

As you know, apart from the guns that are being aimed at the people of Bangladesh, Pakistan's propaganda guns are now completely against India, and all over the world they are spreading the theory that we are responsible for what has happened there, that we began it, and that but for India's interference, everything is perfectly normal there. So this situation has to be faced and it has to be faced very tactfully.

Explaining the whole situation of the Sub-continent, the Prime Minister of India also wrote to Mr. Nixon, President of USA the following letter:

Dr. Mr. President,
I am writing at a moment of deep anguish at the unhappy turn, which the relations between our two countries have taken.

I am setting aside all pride, prejudice and passion and trying, as calmly as I can, to analyze once again the origins of the tragedy, which is being enacted. There are moments in history when brooding tragedy and its dark shadows can be lightened by recalling great moments of the past. One such great moment which inspired millions of people to die for liberty was the Declaration of Independence by the United Slates of America. That Declaration stated that whenever any form of government becomes destructive of man's inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it.

All unprejudiced persons objectively surveying the grim events in Bangla Desh since March 25 have recognized the revolt of 75 million people, a people who were forced to the conclusion that neither their life, nor their liberty, to say nothing of the possibility of the pursuit of happiness, was available to them. The World Press, Radio and Television have faithfully recorded the story. The most perceptive of American scholars who are knowledgeable about the affairs of this sub-continent revealed the anatomy of East Bengal's frustrations. The tragic war, which is continuing, could have been averted if, during the nine months prior to Pakistan's attack on us on December 3, the great leaders of the world had paid some attention to the fact of revolt, tried to see that it has nothing to do with the communal problem, that is a national problem for Bangladesh, that would be the right education. If they fail into the trap of trying to bring blame on Indian Muslims for what is being done by the military regime in East Pakistan, Chen we would only be playing Pakistan's game and we would be letting down our friends in Bangladesh and weakening our own country. So what you have to do is to make out a plan for conducting this political education.

As you know, apart from the guns that are being aimed at the people of Bangladesh, Pakistan's propaganda guns are now completely against India, and all over the world they are spreading the theory that we are responsible for what has happened there, that we began it, and that but for India's interference, everything is perfectly normal there. So this situation has to be faced and it has to be faced very tactfully.

Mrs. Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister of India