<P> By the end of April 1971 , Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had asked the Indian army chief General Sam Manekshaw if he was ready to go to war with Pakistan . According to Manekshaw 's own personal account , he refused , citing the onset of monsoon season in East Pakistan and also the fact that the army tanks were in the process of being refitted . He claimed that he offered to resign , which Indira Gandhi declined . He then said he could guarantee victory if she would allow him to prepare for the conflict on his terms , and set a date for it and Prime Minister Indira Gandhi accepted his conditions . In reality , Indira Gandhi was well aware of the difficulties of a hasty military action but she needed to get the military 's views to satisfy her hawkish colleagues and the public opinion , which were critical of India 's restraint . </P>
<P> By the end of April 1971 , Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had asked the Indian army chief General Sam Manekshaw if he was ready to go to war with Pakistan . According to Manekshaw 's own personal account , he refused , citing the onset of monsoon season in East Pakistan and also the fact that the army tanks were in the process of being refitted . He claimed that he offered to resign , which Indira Gandhi declined . He then said he could guarantee victory if she would allow him to prepare for the conflict on his terms , and set a date for it and Prime Minister Indira Gandhi accepted his conditions . In reality , Indira Gandhi was well aware of the difficulties of a hasty military action but she needed to get the military 's views to satisfy her hawkish colleagues and the public opinion , which were critical of India 's restraint . </P>
who was heading indian army in bangladesh 1971
who was heading indian army in bangladesh 1971
General Sam Manekshaw
General Sam Manekshaw