Candle Light marks Independence Day at border

Wagah, Aug 15: At the stroke of midnight, when the world slept, the tiny flames of about a hundred candles lit this joint border check post and the silence of the night was shattered by chants of 'Yeh desh vi hamara hai, wo desh vi hamara hai' (This country is ours, that country is also ours).

As the candle lights fluttered in the cool night breeze, members of the Hind-Pak Dosti Manch moved towards the Radcliffe Line chanting 'Indo Pakistan unity Zindabad'. A couple of yards from the zero line these peaceniks halted and embraced each other, exhibiting the strong bonds of friendship that bind the common people of India and Pakistan.

The 21-member delegation from Pakistan had crossed over into India through this check post yesterday morning to join members of the Hind-Pak Dosti Manch to take part in the 11th Candle Light Vigil at midnight. It was for the first time that a Pakistani delegation took part in the midnight Vigil for Indo-Pak peace and friendship.

Greeting each other on the occasion of the Independence Day of Pakistan (Aug 14 ) and India, the participants of both the countries passed a resolution calling upon both the countries to continue with the ongoing peace process. The resolution strongly condemned terrorism and all forms of violence.

Renowned journalist and founder of the Dosti Manch, Mr Kuldip Nayar while addressing the paricipants said '' we must continue with the peace process, as the common man in both the countries want peace and harmony''. Mr Nayar despite criticism from certain quarters for his views advocating stronger Indo-Pak ties, said ''violence would not deter us''.

The 'Dosti' exponents kept humming 'Hum Ek Hai'(We are one), but not a single word was uttered in memory of those who died in the serial bomb blasts at Mumbai last month.They spoke of the strong cultural bonds that bind the two neighbours, but made no mention of those who die each day in the Kashmir valley.

Mr Imtiaz Alam, general secretary South Asia Free Media Association (SAFMA) from Lahore was of the view point that terrorism was a problem which both nations should jointly combat. ''A handful of hardliners are responsible for the violence because they want to subdue the voice of millions'', he said without making any mention of Pakistan's role in abetting and sponsoring terrorism.

Mr Pervez Malik a National Assembly member of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz Sharif group) said that the peace process must continue as people of both nations wanted to live in harmony with each other.

The participants observed that the governemts of both countries should pay attention towards poverty, hunger, health and education.

''We cannot afford violence in a society where millions are dying of hunger each day'', they said in one voice as they extinguished their candles to mark the end of their Vigil at the border which came into existens 60 years ago.

As they headed for Amritsar,the voice of the popular Punjabi singer Hansraj Hans shattered the airy silence of the night as he sang 'Yeh Punjab vi sada hai, vo Punjab vi sada hai'(This Punjab is ours, that Punjab is also ours).

UNI

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