CHAPTER - 2

DEBATE ON THE PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS

Lok Sabha, 8 January 1976

EDITORIAL NOTE

Intervening in the Debate, Y B. Chavan shared his thinking about the proclamation of the Emergency. He recalled that the country had accepted democracy as an instrument for bringing about socio-economic transformation. However, in the recent past, “ I have felt, functioning on the Treasury Benches, functioning as a citizen of India, functioning as an old freedom fighter that there was a game of obstacles going on all around.” That had created a sense of frustration in the country. According to Chavan, “if we allow a sense of frustration to be built up, I would say, that itself means an end of democracy in the country. This is the basic thing.” He added, “Democracy means faith of people in themselves. The moment they feel that they cannot make any further progress through the institution that they have created, to which they are committed that is the end of democracy.”

Speaking about India’s external relations, Chavan stated that, “Foreign policy issues are organically linked with the internal policies.... They are practically the same thing, it is an indivisible entity.”

Shri Y B. Chavan : Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am on my feet for a very brief intervention on the discussion on the motion of Thanks to the President. I must first of all, thank many of the Members who in the course of their contribution referred to some of the important aspects of the foreign policy matters. They have certainly made a useful contribution and some constructive suggestions. Some times they were somewhat critical also. But looking to the contents of the speeches on the major issues, I get a very pleasant, impression that I think, all of you will share it with me, that as far as the aims and objectives of the foreign , policy of this country are concerned, there appears to be a general consensus and that I think is one of the assets of our national strength.