'West has turned Ind-Pak-Bangla into arms bazaar'

Lucknow, Jun 4: Bangladesh-India-Pakistan Forum today slammed Western powers for turning the region into an arms bazaar.

Talking to reporters here, forum leader and Nationalist Congress Party state president Dr Ramesh Dikshit claimed that capitalist powers were using the present situation among the three countries for their own benefit.

''Like facist parties, we do not talk of once again turning India, Pakistan and Bangladesh into one country...we want the bitterness to end despite the international borders,'' he said.

He claimed that even after fighting several wars, when Europe can adopt the concept of European Union, why cannot the three countries end a mere 60 year old enmity into friendship.

''Against the backdrop of 150 years of the 1857 first war of Independence, the Forum would organise a seminar in the UP capital on June 8 to discuss the present situation and efforts which can be launched to turn the region into an area of friendship and co-operation,'' he added.

UNI