Speeches in Parliament Vol. (IV)-43

The Prime Minister is ceaselessly warning the people about dangers in and around the country, and that is a reality. It is better, in these matters, that every citizen should be made aware of it. Unless every citizen is made aware of it and is conscious of it, it would become difficult. That is the only way in which we have to function in this country; we should not function in isolation. There should be the maximum participation and support of the people. I have read out Panditji’s quotation in which he mentioned this as a fundamental aspect. We have to raise the maximum consciousness among the people because these are the challenges to us. Our challenges are that this is the world that is around us, this is the Asia we are living in, this is the neighbourhood we are living. There are some dangers in the Indian Ocean and Deogo Garcia. We have said that we are against it. It is not a bilateral issue because the littoral countries have passed a resolution and they have formed an ad hoc Committee to try and call a conference. There is no doubt that there is danger to the free countries of the Indian Ocean. How can we be indifferent to it, whether they like it or not? I had discussions with an American representative and we categorically told him that we want co-operation in other matters but we are completely against this. Naturally they did not accept that proposition, but we must be, as a nation, aware of some of these dangers. These are the challenges and dangers, but these are the strengths also. Our strength is our own approach. In this evolving world we could stand on our own with confidence today because we followed certain basic policies of economic development and planning of our own strength. we do get co-operation from others. But let me make it clear that only seven per cent of the contribution is from other countries; almost 93 to 94 per cent of resources have been raised by us in this country, for the development of India. This is the reality. The technical talent, the technical competence that we have built in this country, is the greatest change; the younger generation, a new generation, has come. The discipline, the dedication and the determination that we have shown in the last few months have shown to the whole world that India of 1976 is a new India, a changing India, a different India, a strong India, and it can certainly meet the challenges. Our response to these challenges is the way we are trying to go today; and possibly we will have to pursue the same line, the same approach, in the days to come.

Sir, I have done.