RR7121A India The Bengal Refugee Problem

Three million Bengali refugees are crowding into camps in the frontier towns of West Bengal, and the Indian authorities expect the final total to reach six, or even seven millions. The cost of providing food, shelter and clothing for such a multitude is far beyond the physical or financial resources of India. Mrs. Gandhi has declared that India cannot be permanently saddled with an extra six million people. What concerns her is that a 'Palistinian' situation could develop, with Bengali guerrilla organisations drawing support from the discontented homeless in the camps and thus creating further unrest in an already unstable part of India. Some Indians are now saying the problem can only be solved by fighting a short war with Pakistan and thus imposing a settlement under which the refugees could return to their homes in East Bengal.