Home   Contact Us                                                                       Dateline New Delhi, Sunday, June 12, 2005

 

 


Main Page                                                       Archive

 

PM keen on converting Siachen into a 'peace mountain'

     Siachen: Addressing troops here this morning, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said time has come to make efforts to convert Siachen, the highest battlefield in the world, into a "peace mountain". The first Prime Minister to visit the glacier, Manmohan Singh said the nation was aware of the hardships faced by the soldiers in guarding the nation's frontier. He assured the troops that the Government of India will take steps to improve living conditions in the area to make the day- to-day life of the soldiers better. He also asserted that while pursuing the peace efforts, there would be "no redrawing of boundaries" and the search for peace will continue without compromising the country's security and prestige. Dr Manmohan Singh said: "Siachen is called the highest battlefield where living is very difficult... Now time has come that we make efforts that this battlefield is converted into a peace mountain" and talks were going on with Pakistan in this regard. On Saturday when the Prime Minister visited Kargil, he was informed of the aspirations of the local residents to revive trade relations with Baltistan and Gilgit. He assured them that steps would be taken to accelerate peace and development .

     Dr Manmohan Singh told them that that talks were on with Pakistan for opening of roadline between Kargil and Skardu in Pakistan controlled northern areas. He also informed them that the country was in touch with China and had come to an agreement over the "guiding principles" to settle a four-decades old dispute over their 3,500 km (2,200- mile) Himalayan border, over which the country fought a brief but bitter war in 1962. The Prime Minister, who arrived in Leh on Saturday, assured the people of Ladakh that New Delhi would continue deliberations with Beijing over the issue. While laying foundation stone for a 44 Mega Watt power project, the PM had said that converting the Srinagar-Leh road into National Highway was under consideration and plans were contemplated to make this road an all weather route. "Our effort is to ensure that such dangers do not recur. That is why we have started talks with Pakistan government to ensure permanent end to mutual conflicts and so that people of two countries could live peacefully," the Prime Minister had said while mentioning about Kargil aggression in 1999. On relations between India and China he are warmer than ever before, with both emerging as economic and diplomatic heavyweights on the world stage and discovering the language of cooperation rather than competition.

     He said "A huge chunk of Ladakh, Aksai Chin is under control of foreign forces...similarly on the Baltistan side (on the west of Ladakh) there is presence of foreign forces. We will talk to the governments of Pakistan and China and are resolute on finding a solution to these issues," Mr.Singh said. He had expressed his hope that a final settlement between India and China could still be years away, but they appear to move slowly towards the recognition of the status quo, with perhaps a few minor modifications. Singh said his efforts would be to take forward the momentum and facilitate easier access and newer trade route via their Himalayan border. He also promised to take up with Beijing a new much shorter pilgrimage route via Ladakh to the Kailash Mansarovar Lake in Tibet. "My efforts will be that we improve our relations with China and find new ways of trade and cooperation. Mansarovar is a very holy spot and many people have for years yearned to go for a pilgrimage there. We know that by taking the Ladakh route we can greatly reduce the travel time to Mansarovar...we will take this issue also with China, Dr Manmohan Singh said. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Siachen is considered significant especially, in the context the talks between India and Pakistan to demilitarise the region.

BJP, Congress wary over Mirwaiz's United Kashmir  (Go To Top)
by Ramesh Ranjan

     New Delhi: Indian political parties have expressed their worry over the result of the visit of separatist Kashmiri leaders to Pakistan and in particular, the statement of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq saying that there should be a United States of Kashmir. Mirwaiz, who is expected to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, seems to have chosen to publicise his stand even before returning to India. Condemning Mirwaiz's statement, BJP Parliamentary Party spokesman V K Malhotra said here, "Jammu and Kashmir is and will be an integral part of India. Mirwaiz's statement is highly objectionable. These "so-called" representatives can't decide the fate of Kashmiris. Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee's sacrifice can't go in vain. It's a ridiculous proposal." Congress has also said that the Parliament of India has passed a resolution in this regard that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India. "It may be Mirwaiz's individual idea. J and K is an integral part of India. We want to increase people-to-people interaction that does not mean we don't have authority over Kashmir. Hurriyat leaders have also accepted the authority of the Indian government by accepting the terms and conditions of the travel permits issued to them," said Congress Spokesperson Anand Sharma.

     Taking strong note of Mirwaiz's comment, breakaway People's Conference leader Sajjad Lone said," Whose representation this visiting delegation is doing? Mirwaiz is speaking of independence from the podium of Pakistani government. And he is saying that New Delhi and Islamabad can't dictate Kashmir's fate then why has he gone there on a state visit. Pakistani people had not invited them." Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, while addressing a Symposium on Kashmir: Looking Towards The Future, had propounded a new concept for resolving the Kashmir issue ~ one of an United States of Kashmir in which people would be able to move freely. We desire to be citizens of the United States of Kashmir and we desire India and Pakistan to give a free hand to the Kashmiri leadership to come up with new proposals, he had said and had added that Hurriyat Conference had decided to take the initiative. I don't want to take the bus 20 years down the line, I want to fly to Delhi, Islamabad or Tashkent. We want to move beyond the traditional line, he had said without elaborating.

First martyrdom function of Bhindranwale observed (Go To Top)
by Rabinder Singh Robin

     Amritsar: First martyrdom day function of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale , 14th chief of Damdami Taksal was observed at Gurdwara Gurdarahan Parkash, head quarters of Taksal at Chowk Mehta about 40 kilometers from Amritsar. After 21 years, Damdai Taksal had accepted that Bhindranwale was killed in Operation Bluestar on June 6, 1984. All through these years, Taksal had mainained that Bhindranwale was in chardi kalan. On the occasion, Taksal also resumed the reciting of Sri Guru Granth Sahib where tit was left by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale before being killed and also publicly displayed the steel arrow, garhwa and sword used by the earlier chief of the Taksal. Heavy security arrangements were made around the Gurdwara, a special police beat was set up and riot control vehicles were also deployed . Baba Sarabjot Singh Bedi, leader of Sant Samaj, former jathedar of Akal Takht Bhai Ranjit Singh, Jasbir Singh Rode, Baba Daya Singh Sursing, Baba Jagtar Singh , Gurdeep Singh , general secretary , SAD (Ravi Inder) were among others who were present on the occasion. In a significant move Baba Harnam Singh opined to constitute a joint relief Shaheedee Fund after the name of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale to help the families of those who had laid down their lives during the Sikh struggle. He said Damdami Taksal will also contribute in the joint Shaheedee Funds and asked other Sikh organizations like Sikh students federations, youth wings SGPC to contribute in the funds . On the occasion the Damdami Taksal announced to confer an award of Rs. 101000 for the students doing exceptionally well in the studies and special recognition for Sikh intellectuals.

Fire at candle light march in Delhi, 20 children injured (Go To Top)
by Balesh Dhankhar

     New Delhi: Many children were injured in a fire accident at India Gate today evening while doing a candle light march on the occasion of World Day Against Child Labour. Injured children and several other people are hospitalised in Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. The exact number of injured children is yet to be confirmed. The march was organised by a NGO Save the Children against Child Domestic labour. "It was just an accident," said Brain Heidel, India Program Director of the NGO. "We are looking how many children are injured and giving them proper treatment is our first concern," he added.

References: Manmohan PM Siachen peace mountain, Mirwaiz United Kashmir BJP Congress, martyrdom Bhindranwale, candle light march Delhi fire, Baglihar dam World Bank, Pakistan 12 nuclear power plants, US Kashmir solution, Paris Hilton pregnant, JLo, Nicole Kidman ghosts, cow udder cream, Ashton Kutcher nude, Kerry women-only cab, Jennifer Aniston baby Pitt, lord Krishna idols, India, India News, Newspaper, Indian, News, Travel News, India Travel Times, Travel,Tourism, Tour, Tourist, India, Times, News, Hotels, Airlines, Ayurveda, Yoga, Hindu, Taj Mahal, Cuisine, Festival, Temple, Trekking, Hindu, Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, Odissi, Dance, Shimla,Varanasi, Kullu, Manali, Dehra Dun, Mussourie, Mussoorie, Haridwar, Hardwar, Rishikesh, Nainital, Delhi, Goa, Kovalam, Darjeeling, Bodh Gaya, Kancheepuram, Kanchipuram, Thekkady, Badrinath, Amar Nath,Vaishno Devi, Tirupati, Sabarimala, Guruvayoor, Kanyakumari, Kodaikanal, Ooty, Chennai,

     Previous File                 Go To Top
Home    Contact Us
NOTE:  Free contributions of articles and reports may be sent to editor@indiatraveltimes.com
DISCLAIMER
All Rights Reserved ©indiatraveltimes.com