16 December, 1971: India Defeated Pakistan in Bangladesh War

                                                                                                                                                   Naoroji Road

C. Rajagopalachari                                                                                                                   Chetput

                                                                                                                                                   Madras – 31

7^th April 1971

16 December, 1971: India Defeated Pakistan in Bangladesh War

A Statement for the Press by C. Rajagopalachari

I am surprised that some good people talk of India “recognising” the independence of Bangladesh. They should realise that so long as President Yahya Khan has not surrendered or confessed defeat, a ‘recognition’ of Bangladesh by the Government of India would be a declaration of war against Pakistan. It should be obvious that the big powers of the world should lead in the matter and not India, unless indeed we want an immediate war between India and Pakistan. We cannot see things clearly through a turbid medium. Emotion charged minds make a turbid medium.

                                                                                                      (Signature)

                                                                                    C. RAJAGOPALACHARI

Source: C. Rajagopalachari Papers (VI-XII Inst.), MSS, NMML