India’s national congress party chief Sonia Gandhi has said that 1971 was “as much a transformative year for India as it was for Bangladesh”.
In a video message on the occasion of the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the golden jubilee of independence of Bangladesh, she said 50 years ago, the courageous people of Bangladesh scripted “a whole new destiny changing the whole history and the geography of the sub-continent”.
“Bangladesh’s remarkable achievement, its social development, community participation, economic growth and other areas has been very impressive and has received global recognition,” she said.
“We in India have always had a special relationship with the people of Bangladesh.
“This has been in very large measure, because of the role Indira Gandhi played in the historic events of 1971 and deep bonds of mutual respect, admiration that Bangabandhu and she established,” she said.
“Soon thereafter (1971), Bnagabandhu emerged as the leader of his people. Both our countries face many challenges, economic, environmental, and social. Both countries have been beacons of diversity,” she said.
“On this joyous occasion, and as someone who loved the transformative hours of the days and months of 1971 on Indira Gandhi's side along with my husband Rajiv Gandhi, I am personally delighted to share the joy of joining Sheikh Hasina and her country men,” Sonia said.
Rajiv Gandhi is the elder son of Indira Gandhi.
