Speeches (Vol. IV)

There were countries which were laughing at non-alignment countries in the beginning. There were individuals, even in our country and in Parliament, and you can find their speeches ridiculing non-alignment. But, gradually, we found that non-alignment policy had been accepted as one of the very important planks of more than 100 countries in this world. It is something very interesting that when the big powers - big imperial powers, saw that this is making an impact, they have resorted to some different tactics now. There is an attempt of infiltration into the non-alignment movement. There is an attempt to dilute the principles of non-alignment. One has to be very careful about this. We find that the non-alignment movement made an impact as a result of deliberations in different forums. What they did in the sixth special session of U. N. for example. They gave a call for a new economic order and the one phrase that really speaking frightens the imperial powers in the world is ‘a new economic order’. We are yet to put content in it, we are yet to organise it. But, after the acceptance by the U. N. the most important representative body of the world of the declaration for having a new economic order, they think there is a basic challenge now, and new and different tactics have been started. We have to be very careful about it. I must say that this new dialogue or new movement that has been supported by the developing countries in the world today of having a new economic order is something where we are taking an attitude of co-operation. We are trying as a matter of fact, to test the will of the developed countries- whether they are willing to accept certain programme of new economic order. This is going to be the final test for them. It has to be proved whether - besides paying good wishes or mere talk of co-operation, they want to make sacrifices to bring about equality; because in our own country we are fighting for removal of the distance between the rich and the poor and we are emphasising equality in the country. The same problem is before the world today. As I have often said, to the world agenda today the first item is economic equality, removal of inequality between the rich and the poor nations. It is really speaking the basic problem of world. Is the basic problem of any individual country. This is, really speaking, the major problem that we face today. I would not use the word ‘ leaders’ because that is a sensitive word, but as pioneers, it is our responsibility to see that the non-aligned movement remains committed to its basic principles so as to fight the process of exploitation, the process of de-stabilisation and the process of intervention. This is going to be our major policy. The negative forces which are operating are resorting to rather very interesting tactics. I do not want to go into the details now.