THE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES OFFICIAL REPORT IN THE FORTY-SECOND SESSION OF THE RAJYA SABHA Commencing on the 18th February, i<)63\the 29th Magna, 1884 (Saka) 1 2 ment of a structure of society wherein these RAJYA SABHA objectives might be effectively realised. We Monday, the 18th February, 1963/the 29th have also, in accordance with our past Magha, 1884 (Safca) traditions, laboured for world peace and endeavoured to cultivate friendly and co- operative relations with all countries, avoiding The House met at fifteen minutes past military alliances. We venture to think that we twelve of the clock, MR. CHAIRMAN in the have been of some service in thia respect to Chair. the international community. PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS LAID ON 3. Soon after the constitution of our THE TABLE Republic, we began our long pilgri mage to reach our objective of a SECRETARY: Sir, I beg to lay on the democratic and socialist order and Table a copy of the President's Address to adopted planned approaches to thia both the Houses of Parliament assembled end. Two Five Year Plans succeeded together on the 18th February, 1963. one another, and now we are in the middle of the Third Five Year Plan. (Text of the President's Address in English) During this period, we have made substantial progress in many sectors Members of Parliament, I welcome you to of our economy, even though we have your labours in a new session of the Third not always been satisfied with the Parliament of our Republic. progress made. 2. Ever since the constitution of our 4. Agriculture, which is the most Republic, our Parliament has had to face important sector of our economy has difficult problems and to shoulder heavy undergone material developments and responsibilities. Under the guidance of agricultural production has increased Parliament, we have laboured for the considerably. Industry, both large- fulfilment of the objectives laid down in our scale and small-scale,'as well.as vil Constitution, namely, to secure for all our lage industries, have shown marked citizens social, economic and political progress, and gradually an industrial justice; liberty of thought, expression, belief, base of our economy is being estab faith and worship; equality of status and of lished. The nation's health has im opportunity; and to promote among them all, proved greatly, and the expectation of fraternity, assuring the dignity of the life, which used to be 32 in the individual and the unity of the nation. We forties, has reached 47 and is; rising have directed all our energies towards the still. Striking results have been ob establish- tained in the programme for the era dication of malaria, Education, even though a great deal more has to be 3 President's Address [ RAJYA SABBA ] laid on the Table 4 done to improve its quality and content, has 7. These massive attacks and further spread rapidly. By the end of March 1962, aggression on our territory had a powerful there were over fifty million boys and girls in effect on our people and resulted in a our schools and colleges. Stress has been widespread and spontaneous display of unity specially laid on scientific and technical edu- all over the country. All the petty internal diffe- cation and a large number of new rences were hushed and stopped in the face of technological institutions are functioning this peril to the nation's integrity and freedom. now. Parliament gave a lead to the nation in this matter in November last and our people, throughout the length and breadth of India 5. Engrossed though we were in our wholeheartedly followed this lead. internal development, we continued to take purposeful interest in international affairs, 8. Any attack on the integrity of India always laying stress on the vital importance would have been painful, but an attack coming pf world peace. On some occasions, our from a country with whom we had tried to be participation made a difference and helped friendly, and whose cause we had espoused in the cause of peace. We had hoped not only international councils was a gross betrayal and that world peace would be progressively came as a great shock to our people. assured, but that we also would continue to Inevitably, the first duty of the nation in these live at peace with our neighbours, and that circumstances was to meet this aggression any problems that arose would be settled by effectively and to prepare the country to that peaceful methods. We settled some of our end. important problems with Pakistan, but unfortunately other important ones still 9. At present no actual fighting is taking remain. We are anxious to settle these also place. But the experience of the last few peacefully so that India and Pakistan should, months has warned and steeled us and made us in accordance with our common history, resolve to protect ourselves on this menace and culture and traditions, live as friendly and co- to strengthen our defences and economic operative neighbours. structure to the utmost Our Government is devoting itself to this urgent and vital task. 6. Some years ago, China commenced its surreptitious aggression in Ladakh which 10. Soon after the Chinese aggression our later resulted in some incidents between the Government appealed to the countries of the two countries. This matter has often been world asking for their sympathy and support. discussed in Parliament. We hoped that we We are grateful to the large number of them would succeed in solving this question also who responded and extended their sympathy. through peaceful methods. On the 8th A number of them have also given practical September last, however, a new aggression support and we are grateful to them. In particular, I should like to express our started across the border in the North East Frontier Agency and, after some probing gratitude to the United States of America and attacks, China, on the 20th October, mounted the United Kingdom for the speed with which they gave their support to us in a moment of a massive attack on both the NEFA and the Ladakh sectors of the India-China boundary. crisis. In the middle of November, a second massive attack followed and our forces received a 11. The last session of Parliament setback. Subsequently the Chinese discussed fully certain proposals Government ordered unilaterally a cease-fire which were put forward by the Gov- and a withdrawal. 5 President's Address [ 18 FEB. 1963 ] laid on the Table 6 ernments of Ceylon and five other non-aligned working in fields and factories and in countries. These proposals did not deal with Government undertakings all over the the merits of the basic dispute between India country, and it has been a heartening and China, but suggested some method of experience for all of us to see this mighty creating an atmosphere which would enable response of a great people in the face of peril these basic questions to be discussed. After to the motherland. full consideration and reference to Parliament, our Government conveyed their acceptance of these proposals, as clarified by the Colombo 14. Soon after the declaration of Powers, without any reservation. The Chinese Emergency, the central organisations Government has thus far not accepted them of labour and management unani and we cannot say at present what deve- mously adopted an industrial truce lopments may take place in the future. Our resolution aiming at the total elimina country, committed as it is to peaceful method, tion of industrial disputes, and in will always endeavour to solve disputes crease of production and reduction of peacefully, provided this is in consonance with cost to the maximum extent possible. our honour and freedom. But whatever may In pursuance of this, Emergency Pro happen, we cannot and will not submit to duction Committees have been set up dictation backed by military force. at the Centre, in the States and in many industrial establishments. 12. The issue of the Chinese aggression has been, and is today, the overriding issue before us and everything else has to be 15. In view of the great burdens considered in that context. The freedom and cast on us by the Chinese aggression honour of a country must be given the first and the steps taken to meet it, the place and, if a country cannot defend them, question arose as to how far our then other matters lose significance. The Third Five Year Plan could be car nation's activities have thus been concentrated ried through without considerable on this basic issue. A National Defence Coun- change. On full consideration of the cil has been formed and a National Defence matter, our Government came to the Fund started. This Fund has met with a conclusion that a very great part of generous response from our people. Many the Plan was essential for strengthen Citizens' Councils have been formed in the ing the nation and its implementation different States; and a Central Citizens' was, therefore, necessary even from Council, to co-ordinate the activities of the the point of view of defence. Economic other Councils, has also been instituted development and industrial growth are the very basis of our defence pre 13. Many steps have been taken in order to paredness. To stop or slow down expand our armed forces and increase this process of economic development production in our ordnance factories and other would result in weakening the coun defence establishments. The assistance of civil try. It has therefore been decided to factories is also being taken to this end. I continue implementing the Third Five should like to express our Government's Year Plan with such minor modifica gratitude to the workers of all these factories.