October 26, 2003	Sunday	Sha’aban 29, 1424

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HYDERABAD, Oct 25: Visiting former parliamentarian from India and noted peace activist Nirmala Deshpande has opposed the arms race, particularly nuclear weapons, in the sub-continent saying that 80 per cent parliamentarians of India were ignorant of the implications of devastations caused by nuclear bombs.

She was speaking as chief guest at the first convention of the Association of People of Asia on Friday at a hotel which was organized by the APA’s Pakistan chapter.

She said that she has not lost heart in the peace movement because peace activists were the emerging “superpower” and added that the world over millions of peace activists were working for a nuclear-free world.

She stated that she was happy to note the enthusiasm of youths in the US, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan and expressed hope that the movement for peace would continue without any hindrance in an organized way.

Ms Nirmala, who is also chairperson of the All India Harijan Sewak Sangh, pointed out that it were youths who have to live a long life; therefore, they should oppose the nuclear arms race in the region because massive devastations were the second name of these weapons. “Forget the mistakes of my generation. You should think about your own future and become Mujahid of peace. It is for you to decide whether you want to live or die.”

The former member of the Indian Rajya Sabha said, “There is a big lot which is ignorant of the implications of nuclear bombs.”

She said that at the times of attacks on Iraq, peace activists recalled Martin Luther King and Mahatma Gandhi for their non-violence theory.

She said a superpower is emerging in the shape of a silent majority worldwide which is working for a nuclear-free world.

She claimed that even the Americans had started to change their high lifestyle as they had started to realize that half the population of the world was hungry.

She urged the youths to come out on the roads in the cause of peace as “it is going to bring about a massive change in the world.”

She said that in the Ayodhya strategy, those opposing the demolition of the Babri Mosque had failed; otherwise, even Hindu religious leaders had opposed Vishwa Hindu Parishad activists.

She said that Indian and Pakistani citizens residing in the US had decided to celebrate their independence days on Aug 14 which was indeed a happy augury.

An optimistic Nirmala said, “Peace activists should not consider themselves as weak. We shall overcome one day because we are headed on the right path and the Almighty is with us.”

She claimed that even peace slogans create a conducive atmosphere but the leaders would have to leave their bungalows and drawing rooms for that.

She believed that the day was not far when thousands of Indians and Pakistanis would gather on both sides of the border to hug each other without any visa or entry permits.

A sitting member of the Lok Sabha from Baramula, Kashmir, Abdul Rashid Shaheen said that India and Pakistan shared a common culture because their history rather their blood was the same.

He was quite reserved while speaking to the gathering saying he had to be careful otherwise it would lead to hurdles in his peace mission.

Opposing the ban on trade of newspapers and magazines, he said that he was not among the computer literates which was why he enjoyed reading books and newspapers but under the prevailing circumstances he was unable to do so.