Nishikant Dubey's Indira-Nixon '1971 ceasefire' conversation claim: Reading between the lines

New Delhi: BJP MP Nishikant Dubey stirred controversy on Wednesday by claiming that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had written to then U.S. President Richard Nixon on December 5, 1971, agreeing to a ceasefire during the Indo-Pakistani war.

"She wrote that our government is in danger, and India wants a ceasefire; you convince Pakistan. Such a big surrender, such a big lie. The entire history of 1971 is contained in this one letter that Indira Gandhi wrote. When people thought that we could take our Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, when we had captured 93,000 Pakistani soldiers, at that time, suddenly a ceasefire happened...," he told ANI.

Dubey’s remarks were in response to Rahul Gandhi’s speech in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, where he invoked the 1971 war to highlight the strength of political leadership at the time.

“Rajnath Singh ji compared 1971 and Operation Sindoor in his speech. I want to remind him that in 1971, there was political will. The seventh fleet of America was coming, but the then prime minister Indira Gandhi ji said that we will do whatever we have to do in Bangladesh,” Rahul said.

He further said, “General Manekshaw told Indira Gandhi ji that I will not do the operation right now, I need six months. Indira ji gave him complete freedom to do so. Indira ji had said that you can take as much time as you need... After this, one lakh Pakistani soldiers surrendered, and a new country was formed.”

Responding to Rahul, Dubey further said, “After looking at this history, don't you think that Congress controlled the entire media? Congress tried to distort the history. What we have been taught since childhood is that Nixon and Kissinger were not allowed to enter but history is that India Gandhi surrendered in 1971... I have asked the Speaker to take action to expunge his speech or ask him to apologise in the Parliament..."

What Indira wrote in her letter to Nixon

Mathrubhumi English, meanwhile, reviewed available resources and declassified documents released by U.S. authorities related to diplomatic communications between Indira Gandhi and Richard Nixon. Upon examination, we accessed the purported letter written by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to President Nixon dated December 5, 1971.

Excerpt from the letter:

I am writing to you at a moment of grave peril and danger to my country and my people. The success of the freedom movement in Bangla Desh has now become a war on India due to the adventurism [Page 631]of the Pakistan military machine. It has imposed upon my people and my Government the imperative responsibility of safeguarding our security and territorial integrity. We are left with no other option but to put our country on a war footing. We have therefore declared an emergency for the defence of India. The grave consequences that should follow Pakistanʼs unprovoked attack on us all shall be the sole responsibility of the Government of Pakistan. We are a peace-loving people but we know that peace cannot last if we do not guard our democracy and our way of life. We are not fighting merely for our territorial integrity but for the basic ideals which have given strength to my country and on which Indiaʼs entire future depends. I should stress to Your Excellency that the people and the Government of India are determined that this wanton and unprovoked aggression should be decisively and finally repelled once and for all; the whole of India stands united in this resolve and expects that the international community will appreciate our predicament and acknowledge the righteousness of our cause.

9.

In this hour of danger the Government and the people of India seek your understanding and urge you to persuade Pakistan to desist forthwith from the policy of wanton aggression and military adventurism which it has unfortunately embarked upon. May I request Your Excellency to exercise your undoubted influence with the Government of Pakistan to stop their aggressive activities against India and to deal immediately with the genesis of the problem of East Bengal which has caused so much trial and tribulations to the people not only of Pakistan but of the entire sub-continent.