Some things are worrying me. For example, it is said, ‘It is our hope that notwithstanding the differences which we might have had in the past, we can now foster these relations to a new level, I am talking about the relations with the great powers, particularly, America and the western democracies. They say, “We might have had in the past some differences. Have those differences completely disappeared? I would like to ask this straight question when we discuss the question of the Indian Ocean being a zone of peace. What happens in Diego Garcia is a matter of fundamental differences with the American imperialism and we will have to say very firmly about it. If you give an impression that the past differences are disappearing, how could they disappear? As long as the military base in Diego Garcia stands, our differences with America will be there. Merely telling that those two big countries are likely to discuss the matter and then alone this question will be solved, is a very wrong approach to the problem of the Indian Ocean being a zone of peace. You cannot merely depend on the talk between the Soviet Union and USA.
We will have to say categorically. I know your idea of not taking a lead in calling a conference. I can understand it. I appreciate it also. It is all right, but the culprits must be brought to the limelight that they are the culprits, and if they try to bring back the military bases in the old colonial areas, it means that they have not forgotten their past and we cannot forget our past, and we must protest and tell them, ‘You are the villains who are doing this. ’We will have to create the public opinion about this. We may not have any big diplomatic manoeuvrability about it. We may not have many other pressures to use against them. But creating a public opinion, creating public opinion and the human element about it is much more important. On the contrary you are giving them an impression that our past difference are disappearing. Are they disappearing? Have they disappeared? Has part of Diego Garcia disappeared?
Well, I would like to say that dealing with and trying hard with the American Press and their leakage of the tape-recorded ‘Cold and blunt’ attitude’ Thanks to that leakage and thanks to the Press, I would say some corrections were introduced into this relationship and the visit went off very well to that extent. I am not against it. I am only mentioning this. You have specially mentioned about your relationship with America and the Western democracies and try to give an impression that differences and disappearing. Well, differences should disappear. I do not want that differences should be there, but if they disappear, you tell that. But there are many caused of differences which cannot disappear long as Diego Garcia and the military bases in the Indian Ocean are there. Please dodo not tell us that your differences are disappearing. Please do not tell us that the inherent contradictions between the global interests of any imperialist power and the national interests of India are disappearing. There is contradiction. It is there that we have to be very careful in this particular matter.
I submit Sir, I went through the speech and found out some of the inconsistencies, half-truths and what not completely untrue, but half-truths, yes and I consider half truths more dangerous. They are very highly dangerous. I am very sorry that our great dignitary, the President of India, was made an instrument to disclose these half truths before the Parliament. This is my worry. This is my sadness. So, this is my criticism. This Presidential Address is a great disappointment. This speech is nothing more than that. We expect a little better speech, because Presidential Address, as I said is a statutory requirement. Constitution has made it compulsory. This document must be the one which will give correct, truthful analysis of the past year and future projections of what the Government proposes to do mostly in important industrial economic and social matters.