Continue peace process: Nirmala Deshpande

Chennai, Sep 10 (UNI) Eminent Gandhian and Rajya Sabha Member Nirmala Deshpande today urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf to take the peace process forward while meeting at Havana.

Talking to reporters here, Ms Deshpande, who is the Chairperson of the Indo-Pak forum of Parliamentarians, said people of both the countries desire peace and friendship.

"This message should reach the leaders of both the countries and a letter containing signatures of several Indian Parliamentarians has been handed over to Dr Singh. It was also sent to the Pakistan leaders," she said.

She also said dialogue is the only way to solve the Kashmir issue.

Ms Deshpande further informed that the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations of the Harijan Sevak Sangh, founded by Mahatma Gandhi in 1932 for abolition of caste system, eradicate untouchability and to establish equality in the society, would be celebrated next year. Yatras would be held all over the country to create an awareness in the society against injustice.

She also announced that the three-day South Asian conference of Akhil Bharat Rachanatmak Samaj -- a Federation of Gandhian Institutions -- would be held at Tirupati in the second week of November this year.

Nearly 20,000 delegates, from all over the world will attend the conference, she added.

UNI GV AJ SSC BST1931