Many years ago when Bangladesh was also demanding a separate nation, it was India who supported it. In such a situation, the question is whether PM Modi will learn from the mistakes of Pandit Nehru and Congress and support it in the demand for Balochistan.
The Balochistan Pakistan Army (BLA), which had hijacked Pakistan Jaffar Express on has been demanding a separate country for a long time. This issue becomes important for India because on Independence Day 2016, PM Modi has shown his sympathy towards the people of Balochistan and Gilgit in his speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort. Many years ago when Bangladesh was also demanding a separate nation, it was India who supported it. In such a situation, the question is whether PM Modi will learn from the mistakes of Pandit Nehru and Congress and support it in the demand for Balochistan.
Like Balochistan, Bangladesh also demanded a separate country
It is believed that when the princely states of the country were being divided at the time of India’s independence, Balochistan wanted to merge in India. But the Pakistani army took action against Balochistan and annexed it forcefully. Similarly, when Bangladesh was also demanding to become a separate country about 53 years ago, India supported it.
India had helped the Mukti Bahini
India has played an important role in the independence of Bangladesh. If the Indian forces had not helped the Mukti Bahini, then perhaps Bangladesh would not have existed. Actually Mukti Bahini is a Bengali word which means freedom fighter or independent army. It is also known as Bangladesh Forces, but Pakistan calls it a terrorist organisation. Because it was because of this that Bangladesh was formed in 1971 in the name of East Pakistan.
Indira Gandhi had gathered support for Bangladesh
On March 7, 1971, Mujibur Rahman, the founder of Bangladesh and father of PM Sheikh Hasina, had asked the people of Pakistan to prepare themselves for the struggle. From this day onwards, the struggle against Pakistan began and the military named it Operation Searchlight. Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister of India at that time. She not only gave refuge to the people of Bangladesh in India, but also travelled around the world to gather support for this country. It was Indira Gandhi, under whose rule, 10 million people of Bangladesh were given refuge in Tripura, Meghalaya, West Bengal and Assam.
At that time America helped Pakistan
At that time America was helping Pakistan, but still India gave full support to the freedom fighters of Bangladesh. During this time they were provided with weapons and training facilities. This conflict lasted for about nine months, only then East Pakistan was included in the world map. During this time about three million people were killed, three lakh women were raped and many people’s houses were burnt to ashes. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was arrested on 25 March 1971. He appealed for help to the whole world, but only India heard it. Pakistan surrendered only because of the help of Mukti Vahini and India.
