Indian Nation (Patna)

Mrs. Indira Gandhi's current visit to Moscow is pregnant with possibilities about the power balance in our sub-continent and in Asia. The crisis caused by the influx of 9 million refugees from East Bengal and the continued deterioration in the economic situation in the country have provided an impetus for a comprehensive review of the situation. In other words, our Prime Minister has gone to find out where Moscow stands in regard to problem that confront her. A down-to-earth approach is expected in the dialogue in Moscow

Three enemies have to be fought by Mrs. Gandhi and she has to be sure what Russia will do in terms of the Indo-Soviet Treaty signed on August 9. Enemy No. 1 is West Pakistan's military junta. She cannot allow the death of Bangla Desh and she is committed to sending all the refugees' back home. The international conference on Bangla Desh held last week-end in New Delhi, was attended by about seventy delegates from foreign countries and an equal number of Indian delegates. All continents were represented, although no Russian or Chinese delegates appeared on the scene. The Ruling Congress' and C.P.I. shied off the conference, but their supporters succeeded in omitting the clause in the resolution demanding universal recognition of the new State, urging India to give a lead in recognising the Bangla Desh Govern­ ment. It was admitted on all hands that the general elections in East Pakistan have given legitimacy to the Bangla Desh Government, and destroyed the claim of the military junta to rule the land- According to Jefferson a Government deserving of recognition must be in accord “ with the democratic will of the nation substantially declared” Perhaps the best assessment of the situation in Bangla Desh has been given by Jean Daridan, former French Ambassador to India in an article in Le Monde of September 18. He writes: “ India is an immense country, full of economic problems and social contrasts, which it tackles in pragmatic fashion and with far more success than it generally receives credit for as it does not have any talent at all for public relations. In spite of criticism from political quarters, and the pressure of potentially intolerable public opinion, New Delhi has been playing it cool-since the beginning of the crisis.. . I believe that Bangla is no longer in the realm of theoretical considerations and that the powers must act quickly to get India and Pakistan out of the collision course on which they are headed. At stake is the orderly development of India and the survival of Pakistan. It is in the interest of the world at large that this problem be settled” . Mrs. Gandhi can recognise Bangla Desh regime as the provisional government of Bangla Desh on Indian soil. It can render military and economic aid to such a government. It is important, however, that some other countries too act likewise so that Pakistan’s military junta will have no legitimate excuse to unleash a war against India, Political observers in New Delhi expect startling developments next week. The international community has been impressed most by defections of ambassadors and lower rank officials from various embassies and missions of Pakistan. This has convinced them of the genuineness of the revolt of the Bangla population. But for selfish reasons the great powers want to see Pakistan remain one entity and the Islamic nations have developed religious phobia.

The fact remains, however, that India has failed to sell the real story of the Bangla Desh tragedy to the world. An Australian M.P told the International Conference on Bangla Desh that the moment this issue was raised at the Common­ wealth Parliamentary Association meeting at Kuala Lumpur, the High Commission of Pakistan poured tons of literature on their heads, while nothing came from, the Indian Commission. A Union Minister who has just returned from his travels has stated that many countries have accepted the Pakistani version that refugees number only 2 million and that India is at the root of the trouble ! Whether because of our moral pose or self-righteous attitude, India has few friends in the wide world. Our ambassadors too feel inhibited in espousing a cause for they do not wish to run the risk of being ticked off. Pakistan’s officials have a clear mandate to run down India on all occasions and by every means. Nixon and his kind are with Pakistan because they believe that the Pak. army is at their disposal, as was the mercenary Indian army under the British Raj. India will gain respect in the outside world only if it is clear about its political philosophy and as to who can be its friends and who not. As matters stand we only irritate chancellories of foreign lands. The second enemy Mrs. Gandhi is facing is the spectre of growing unemployment and rising prices. While she is successful in consolidating her hold on the party machine, she finds herself at sea in handling the developing crisis on the socio-economic front. Her father was let down by his aides who made him launch enterprises which have become millstones round India’s neck. Her brains trust is now flirting with the idea of introducing war time controls in respect of essential goods and even of demonitising currency. The latter step, even if favoured, will not be taken until after the general election.

The question whether controls will bring in dividends at the elections is being hotly debated. The academicians say that 95 per cent of the people would get foodstuff, cloth and sugar at fixed prices and that would bring in votes. Those who have had experience of controls in the forties declare that there would be an adverse effect. A former Minister has stated that he was shown a mill in the South, which reduced pebbles to the shape of rice to help profiteers to mix it with rice. The whole issue will be thrashed out at the Conference of Chief Ministers early in October. The Chief Ministers of the State where elections are due, will find it difficult to cut down their expenses or take any measures which might cost them votes.

The third enemy of Mrs. Gandhi has just begun to raise its head. For the present, it is symbolised by the demand for maximum autonomy voiced by the D.M.K. (Dabir Monatra Kajagan) leadership in Tamil Nadu and Akali spokesmen in Punjab. But there are rumblings in other states too. The purge of regional leader­ ship from the Ruling Congress has been accepted without protest. It is difficult for the victims to counter the plea for induction of younger and committed leadership. Moreover, the people as a rule lend ready ears to charges of corruption. The general impression is that C.B.I. (Criminal Bureau of Investigation) only shadows those on the black list. These are politicians and officials who, if need be, can be hauled up for corruption. Politicians and public men who contact Western diplomats are also shadowed. Formerly those who contacted communist embassies were shadowed, now a person can be thick with communist missions and not attract notice of intelligence men. Whether these assumptions have any basis or not, they are generally believed in political circles. The fact that the Administrative Staff College of Hyderabad staged last week-end a seminar opened by Vice-President Pathak, on Centre-State relations, shows the way the wind is blowing. If the regime at the Centre becomes too dictatorial regionalism will raise its head and pose a serious challenge. Already the decision of the Ruling Congress in Tamil Nadu not to make terms with Mr. Kamaraj in any circumstances has been welcomed by the D.M.K. and has given credence to Mr. Karunanidhi’s claim that Mr. Kamaraj is politically nearer to D.M.K. than to Congress (R).

Mrs. Gandhi is becoming conscious of the danger of regionalism to the internal stability of the country. India’s support of the cause of Bangla Desh could in certain circumstances encourage fissiparous tendencies in India. The next three months will thus prove very crucial in the evolution of domestic politics. Whether India is heading for a spell of a dark age or of peace and progress will depend on the course Mrs. Gandhi charts for herself on her return from Moscow the day after tomorrow.