Appeal for Lowering Aggressive tone of BSF-Pak Rangers Parade During Retreat

Amritsar, February 11 (Punjab Post Bureau)- Academicians and peacenicks who converged to take part in the day long deliberations at historic Khalsa College today for seminar on Indo-Pak ties sought concerted efforts to end animosity between two neighouring countries to ensure friendly relations. They also expressed concern over the aggression shown during the daily BSF-Pak Rangers at Wagha Border and appealed the government of India and Pakistan to tone down the belligerent parade.

            The seminar was organized jointly by the Sai Mian Meer International Foundation and Folklore Research Academy, the two cultural organization aiming to bridge gap between the people of two countries. A memorandum was also sent to Prime Minister of India and Pakistan both seeking facilitation of visa counters at the Wagha border for the free flow of people across the borders.  The experts were of the opinion that Visa Consulates of Pakistan and India in Amritsar and Lahore are immediately needed.

            Khalsa College Governing Council honourary secretary Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina who was the chief guest said in his presidential remarks that the Britishers had divided the country into India and Pakistan in 1947 and so much hatred was generated that border related matters are still to be resolved leading to hostility between two neighbours which however share a common history, culture and even a language. He said the growing exchange of people, Pakistan’s action to stop terrorism against India and rising trade between two countries would lead to friendly ties between India and Pakistan.

            Former MLA and Minister Major Singh Uboke, Former SGPC secretary Gurbachan Sing Bachan, Ajaib Singh Sanghera from Canada, Dr. Surinder Singh Mand from Talwara, Dr. Salim Mohammad from Malerkotla and Dilbagh Singh all described the tragedy of the partition and how it led to communal massacre and later political divisions. They said that the people need to be encouraged to travel across the border which will lead to application balm on old wounds and two countries would come together to fight poverty, unemployment together in the region.

            Mian Meer Foundation head Harbhajan Singh Brar earlier welcomed the guest speakers and said that the people have to travel long miles to Islamabad and New Delhi just to attend High Commissions of India and Pakistan where as real distance between Amritsar and Lahore is just 65 kilometers. “To boost trade between East and West Punjabs these Consulates can help a lot. Business development between two Punjabs will bring people closer to each other’’, said Brar. The two books including `Sanjha Aar Paar Diyan’, written by Brar and `Sanjha Da Pavitar Pull; Sain Mian Meer’, edited by Sulakhan Sarhadi and HS Brar were also released during the seminar. The experts were also of the view that Punjab University Lahore, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar And Khalsa University, Amritsar should have guest students from East and West Punjabs and senior citizens above 65 years should be allowed visa-less entries, so that medical tourism can be promoted.