In July 1971, Kissinger had a stop-over in India on his secret visit to China. At that time mass fleeing from East Pakistan and terror by the Pakistan Army were creating havoc in West Bengal and the rest of the country. Mrs Gandhi, was obviously under a big strain. She, therefore, invited Kissinger for a private breakfast to be able to discuss the matter urgently.
However, on the previous evening Mrs Indira Gandhi telephoned General Manekshaw, our Army Chief, and told him that she would like him to come and meet her at breakfast the next morning. She did not disclose as to who her other guests were. She further told the General that when he comes for breakfast, he should come in Army uniform. Naturally, the General felt surprised and asked whether he had heard her rightly that she wanted him to come in the uniform at the breakfast, because it was naturally a very strange suggestion. Mrs Gandhi was straight forward and told him: yes, she wanted him to come for breakfast but in uniform. So, General Manekshaw went for breakfast in full uniform and soon they were joined by Kissinger.
At that meeting Mrs Indira Gandhi was persistent in asking Kissinger to plead with Nixon that he should try to restrain Pakistan from what was being done in East Pakistan because the conditions there were becoming intolerable and it was almost becoming impossible for India to remain silent. Kissinger, however, went on prevaricating and would not really give a straight answer. Rather, he tried to underplay the situation. Mrs Gandhi, however, still insisted, but to no avail. Kissinger would not give any assurance that Nixon would do something about it.
Obviously rattled, Mrs Gandhi said if that was the position she may have to do something herself which she was reluctant to do. At this, Kissinger again expressed his inability on his and Nixon’s behalf to do anything and asked her rather ironically as to what she intended to do. At that time she stood up and pointing towards the General (who was in full military uniform) told Kissinger that “if the US Government and US President cannot control the situation then I am going to ask him (meaning the General) to do the same”.
There was stunning silence for a minute and the sharp message was conveyed to Kissinger in a very stark manner. As a matter of fact, the General was himself surprised and suddenly understood the purpose as to why he had been asked to come in uniform rather than in civilian clothes at apparently a harmless meeting at breakfast. Obviously, Nixon and Kissinger had their egos deflated and were not going to forgive Mrs Gandhi for such an attitude.
However, on the previous evening Mrs Indira Gandhi telephoned General Manekshaw, our Army Chief, and told him that she would like him to come and meet her at breakfast the next morning. She did not disclose as to who her other guests were. She further told the General that when he comes for breakfast, he should come in Army uniform. Naturally, the General felt surprised and asked whether he had heard her rightly that she wanted him to come in the uniform at the breakfast, because it was naturally a very strange suggestion. Mrs Gandhi was straight forward and told him: yes, she wanted him to come for breakfast but in uniform. So, General Manekshaw went for breakfast in full uniform and soon they were joined by Kissinger.
At that meeting Mrs Indira Gandhi was persistent in asking Kissinger to plead with Nixon that he should try to restrain Pakistan from what was being done in East Pakistan because the conditions there were becoming intolerable and it was almost becoming impossible for India to remain silent. Kissinger, however, went on prevaricating and would not really give a straight answer. Rather, he tried to underplay the situation. Mrs Gandhi, however, still insisted, but to no avail. Kissinger would not give any assurance that Nixon would do something about it.
Obviously rattled, Mrs Gandhi said if that was the position she may have to do something herself which she was reluctant to do. At this, Kissinger again expressed his inability on his and Nixon’s behalf to do anything and asked her rather ironically as to what she intended to do. At that time she stood up and pointing towards the General (who was in full military uniform) told Kissinger that “if the US Government and US President cannot control the situation then I am going to ask him (meaning the General) to do the same”.
There was stunning silence for a minute and the sharp message was conveyed to Kissinger in a very stark manner. As a matter of fact, the General was himself surprised and suddenly understood the purpose as to why he had been asked to come in uniform rather than in civilian clothes at apparently a harmless meeting at breakfast. Obviously, Nixon and Kissinger had their egos deflated and were not going to forgive Mrs Gandhi for such an attitude.
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