1971-05-26
Page: 6
From Our Correspondent Delhi, May 25
Mr. Swaran Singh, the Indian Foreign Minister, may visit London soon in attempt to persuade the British Government to stop economic aid to Pakistan. Other Cabinet Ministers are expected to go to Rome, Bonn, Brussels, Amsterdam, Ottawa and Tokyo for the same purpose.
Delhi wants to impress on nations giving aid to Pakistan that by cutting it off, they could force Pakistan to seek a political solution in East Bengal. The Indian Ministers will seek to prove that Pakistan is diverting economic aid to military use.
Mrs. Indira Gandhi, the Indian Prime Minister, is believed to have written to the heads of state that the refugee problem is linked with finding a political solution in East Pakistan. The world powers, she argued, must force Pakistan to realize this because only then would the refugees be willing to go back to their homes.
Mrs. Gandhi has said that the longer the refugees stay in India the greater will be the social, political, communal and economic tensions.
In a debate on Bangla Desh in the Lok Sabha (Lower House) today, Mr. A. K. Sen, a former Law Minister, singled out Britain for his attack and said she was pursuing a Chamberlain-like policy in conniving at the "fascist policies" of Pakistan.
Britain, who had sided with freedom movements in the past, was now giving arms to the Yahya Khan regime to "suppress the liberation struggle" of East Bengalis, he said, arguing in favour of the recognition of Bangla Desh.
Mr. A. B. Vajpayee, leader of the Jan Sangh group, said India would have to discharge her duty and obligation towards Bangla Desh even if the United Nations and the big powers of the world refused to intervene because of power politics.
We should give recognition to the sovereign, independent government of Bangla Desh and actively help them", he said.
Demands for the supply of arms to the East Pakistan guerrilla fighters were also made by some Rajya Sabha (Upper House) members. They said that it would be inhuman for India to remain a silent spectator of mass killings by the Pakistan military regime.