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'Suspicions grow when neighbours are clearly unequal in size'New Delhi, 23 April 2001: Union minister of state for home I D Swami was quizzed on the Bangladesh incursions and the Kashmir talks.I D Swami : Hello, I am here to take your questions. james : swamiji, what happened on the bangla border I D Swami : When the government of India took a very serious view of the whole situation which unfortunately developed unwarranted and unprovoked, and reinforcements were rushed in, strong protests were made with the government of Bangladesh, the status quo ante had to be restored by them. Shelling stopped, Bangladesh Rifles retreated and Prime Minister of Bangladesh had to talk to the Prime Minister of India to show her regret and concern and promised a thorough into the whole unfortunate incident,and for the present all is quiet on the Indo-Bangladesh border. james : What action is India going to take againt the Bangla criminals, or will we forgive them in the name of Indo-Bangla friendship? I D Swami : We have already made it clear to Bangladesh government that the probe which they have ordered in the unfortunate episode must be completed quickly and severest action taken against those who would be found responsible for this criminal misadventure and barbaric inhuman treatment of our soldiers. The warning is that those who test our courage will find it strong and those who seek our friendship would find it honourable. jack : Why is India always suffering from intrusions? Are u jokers in the ministry sleeping? I D Swami : The intrusions have always been taken seriously. And on account of the porous border whenever any such intrusion took place during the present regime, every inch of the land occupied unauthorisedly was vacated whatever be the cost. Which had not happened earlier, whether it was Kargil or Bangladesh border. The government has always been taking a very tough and serious view in this matter. Rati : What are we doing to ensure that some thing like this never happens again? I D Swami : We will earnestly be sorting out all disputes but shared borders often bring with them sometimes mutual suspicion and these suspicions grow when neighbours are clearly unequal in size. Our endavour would be to ensure that no occasion is given for any suspicion, all matters are resolved amicably and good coordial relations are maintained. uday : are pakistan and bangladesh combining to attack India? I D Swami : I do not think so. Bangladesh was created on account of the failure of the two nation therory floated by Pakistan and because of their atrocious treatment of people of Bangladesh. India is strong enough to face any challenge. Those who do not learn from history are always left to repent later. uday : why must we maintain cordial relations? Why can't bangla maintain cordial relations? I D Swami : You are right, it is always a two way traffic and I am sure Bangladesh would ensure that such unfortunate incidents to not occure again and coordial relations get further strengthened more in their interest than ours. jayesh : Is this govt not a coward. You always give in whether it is Kargil, hijacking or Bangladeshis killing our people. I D Swami : No, we have proved even in case of Kargil that we can retrive every inch of land and Pakistan not only stood isolated in the whole world, but had to face internal problems as consequence of their misadventure and even the then prime minister Nawaz Shariff had to be banished from his country. So there is no question of being a coward. This country's strengthen all over the world. We are proud of the best fighters in our armed forces who have proved their valour on all occasions. uday : forget history, but why can't bangla and pak combine as two states in an alliance? I D Swami : As the questioner must be knowning there is discontentment and disenchantment even in the province of Sindh and Baluchistan both parts of Pakistan. A country which has already come into being and has been existing for the so many years will not only not forget the past history but would also take a lesson from the present discontentment in Pakistan itself. jayesh : What about Kashmir. After all the Vajpayee talks, nothing has happened. I D Swami : Vajpayeeji as one of the great stateman of the world has not only succeeded in creating an environment for bringing normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir, open doors for all those who are prepared to abjure violence and enter into a dialogue without any preconditions succeeded in isolating Pakistan in the whole world creating a climate where the world agrees to fight cross border terrorism jointly wherever it be. The talks about resolving the Jammu and Kashmir problem have already started. The prime minister of India has already appointed a very sobre and seasoned politician as a negotiator who has initiated the talks with all those who are interested in the well being and welfare of the people of Kashmir. jayesh : Sir, pls don't say Vajpayee is one of the great statesman. In his three years, we had kargil, indian airlines hijacking, bangla intrusion. He is a failure in defence; only good at reciting poetry. I D Swami : Prime Minister Vajpayeeji has really kind and tender heart like a poet but a strong determination to stand against all eventualities which has been proved not only by Pokharan, Kargil conflict but also by the economic policies and by creating world opinion to fight jointly all cross border terrorism everywhere and anywhere. Don't these prove his statesmanship par excellence. He has also proved if any proof is needed that for bringing peace not only to South Asia but to the whole world he can have Lahore bus Yatra, unilateral ceasefire, and ultimately it was the secretary general of the united nations Kofi Annan who had to tell the chief executive of Pakistan in Islamabad that Pakistan will have to start dialogue on the basis of Lahore declaration and will have to forget the 1948 UN resolution on Kashmir. jayesh : what about the tehelka scam. How can you allow India to be sold so cheaply. Have u guys no shame. I D Swami : Tehelka has only brought to focus once again the rampant corruption though through fiction. And the prime minister of India Vajpayeeji has already committed to the nation to clean this dirt and punish those who would be found guilty as a result of the judicial inquiry. Notwithstanding their position and status. All political parties and the society as a whole will have to join in a crusade against this cancer of corruption. I D Swami : In the best traditions of this great country I wish every patriotic Indian should always think of India before himself or his religion or caste.
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