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| November 30, 2005 | Wednesday | Shawwal 27, 1426 |
Peace process furthered, says Amrindar
LAHORE, Nov 29: Indian Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amrindar Singh said here on Tuesday the friendship started by him and his counterpart Pervaiz Elahi had furthered the peace process between Pakistan and India, leaving a good impact on their peoples.
He was talking to reporters on his arrival at Wagah where he was warmly received by Mr Elahi, members of his cabinet and senior government officials.
Mr Elahi said the friendship which he and Mr Singh had started two years ago had a positive impact on the peace process. However, replying to a question from an Indian journalist he said the peace process would not render irrelevant the border drawn between them in 1947.
Mr Singh crossed the border with a gold palki which would be placed at Nankana Sahib on Wednesday. He would attend the ceremony along with Mr Elahi and directly return home from there via Wagah.
The palki worth over 10 million Indian rupees has been donated by a Delhi Sikh. It was placed in a special vehicle decorated with flowers. A group of sword-weilding Sikhs marched ahead of the vehicle reciting verses from their holy book.
Around 1,300 Sikh pilgrims from different parts of India also crossed the border to take part in the ceremony in which the palki would be placed in Nankana, the birthplace of the founder of Sikh religion, Guru Nanak.
The Indian chief minister was accompanied by six ministers of his cabinet, a parliamentary secretary and an MLA. A team of around 23 journalists from the Indian Punjab had arrived here on Monday.
Two smartly dressed children presented bouquets to Mr Singh. He and members of his delegation were garlanded amidst the sound of bugles played by Pakistan Rangers.
the Indian leader to journalists that the friendship he and Mr Elahi had started two years ago had strengthened. The friendship and the people-to-people contact had backed the peace efforts by the prime ministers a great deal, also increasing cooperation between the two countries in economic, trade and other sectors.
He said this was his third visit to Lahore. He would also witness Punjab Olympics here which had been postponed till February next year because of the earthquake.
Mr Singh said there was no agenda behind the palki. The only agenda was to further the friendship. The plan to place the palki was made by Delhi Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee which was accepted by its counterpart in Pakistan. He said one should not worry the trivial hurdles that could emerge in the peace process which the two countries started after decades (of enmity). A lot had been done towards peace — the Amritsar-Lahore bus service was starting from December 11 and more entry points were being opened.
Mr Singh said the Faisalabad Agriculture University and the Ludhiana Agriculture University would sign an MoU on the occasion of Punjab Olympics in Lahore in February next year to conduct combined research in agriculture.
About the lack of facilities to Pakistani people who wanted to visit India, he said he would take up the matter with the Indian government. But, his government was extending all facilities to Pakistani delegations. “We are receiving at least two to three such delegations every month,” he said.
Mr Elahi made it clear to an Indian journalist that borders between the two countries would not become irrelevant because of the increasing friendship between them.
“As I have said several times, the borders will remain intact. In Middle East, Arabs live in their own countries despite their common religion, culture and language. Borders are still intact in Europe even after the creation of the European Union.”
He, however, said both the countries would strive to provide facilities to their people by developing close friendly ties.
The chief minister said the friendship moves made by him and Mr Singh had improved relations between the two countries. The Amritsar-Lahore bus service was a major leap towards this end.
About opening more entry points in the Punjab, he said at the moment Wagah would be the only gateway available to the people of both the countries.
Meanwhile, Mr Elahi met Mr Singh at the State Guest House where the latter stayed for the night. Accompanied by two ministers, Mr Elahi discussed with him matters of mutual interest.
They are scheduled to fly to Nankana in a helicopter on Wednesday morning to attend the palki placing ceremony.
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