The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Thursday, June 8, 2000,
Chandigarh, India

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Sindhu friendship symbol: PM
From Ehsan Fazili

SRINAGAR, June 7 — The Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, has renewed India’s earnest desire for friendship with Pakistan exuding confidence that “our endeavours in this regard would succeed though it may take some time.”

In his address after performing Sindhu pujan and inaugurating the Sindhu darshan festival-2000 at Leh this morning, Mr Vajpayee hoped that the “gushing Sindhu would carry the message of friendship to Pakistan”. He added that “India need not reiterate its yearning for friendship as it merged from the core of our hearts”. Wishing to see Sindhu in the cold desert region of Ladakh as a river of friendship he hoped its currents would carry the message of peace, brotherhood, cooperation and tranquility wherever it flows.

Sindhu, the Prime Minister said, symbolised the 5000-year-old ethos of the great Indian civilisation and its rediscovery would strengthen emotional integration in the country. “Today we have overcome shortcomings wherever these exist, he said. He referred to the mention of the Sindhu in the national anthem and people’s queries about its existence and said: “ Many did not know it flows amidst our land in the Ladakh region”.

The Prime Minister said he felt overwhelmed to touch the waters of the Sindhu this morning, which refreshed every Indian’s past. He also dwelt on the history of this river and its place in the Rig Veda.

He said festivals like Sindhu darshan would promote tourism in Ladakh region and give fillip to its art and crafts. He stressed for creating countrywide awareness about Ladakh’s rich art, culture and ethos. For the promotion of tourism round the year, he said dependable road communication was necessary. He made mention of the Rs 500-crore tunnel project at Rohtang pass saying that its completion in seven years would be immensely beneficial for the development of the Ladakh region besides meeting defence requirements. The road link between Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh would integrate the people of two neighbouring states, he added.

The function at Shey village about 10 km from Leh, was attended among others by Home Minister L.K. Advani, Jammu and Kashmir Governor Girish Saxena and Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, Union Minister for Tourism Ananth Kumar, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Mukut Mithi, Goa Governor Mohammad Fazal, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and Minister of State for Civil Aviation Chaman Lal Gupta.

Mr Mithi had got the waters of the Brahmaputra which was mingled with the waters of the Indus to signify national integration. Mr Mithi called for hosting a Brahmaputra festival on similar lines.

There were repeated references by the leaders to last year’s Kargil war against Pakistani intruders and the heroic fight put up by Indian soldiers on the Himalayan heights.

Dr Farooq Abdullah recalled the betrayal by Pakistan of the “Lahore spirit” and stressed Islamabad’s evil designs on Kashmir would never succeed.

Dr Abdullah called for granting the status of a full-fledged Army unit to the Ladakh Scouts which fought valiantly during the Kargil conflict and lost 28 of its men. The Ladakh Scouts had been awarded the Chief of Army Staff banner for its performance during the conflict.

He said the runway at Kargil airport should be extended to 9,000 ft to enable Boeing aircraft to land as it was coming up as a tourist spot. The airport under construction has provided for a 6,000-ft runway. He also urged the government to invite private airlines to operate flights from Delhi to Leh regularly.

Mr Advani hoped that Pakistan’s Chief Executive Gen Parvez Musharraf would see reason in having peaceful relations which would benefit both the countries. Pakistan had not been able to reconcile to the voluntary integration of Jammu and Kashmir with the Indian Union, he said. The two-nation theory was not accepted by the people of Jammu and Kashmir, he said.

Mr Vajpayee said the government would look into the possibility of making the Leh-Srinagar road motorable throughout the year to take care of the security and civilian needs.

A large number of children lined up the route from the airport to the venue as Mr Vajpayee arrived, attired in a brown-coloured traditional Ladakhi dress “choga”.

He also unveiled the foundation stones of the Sindhu Cultural Centre and the hostel complex of the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies. Sindhu reminds us of the 5000-years-old civilisations of Harappa and Mohenjodaro, he said.

However, Mr Vajpayee who came here from Manali, could not inaugurate the newly built complex of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LADHC). The Prime Minister is not feeling well, LAHDC Chairman Thupsten Chhewang informed.

SHIMLA (TNS): Bad weather forced Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, who was holidaying in Manali, to return to New Delhi, a day before schedule.

The Prime Minister had gone to Leh to inaugurate the “Sindhu darshan” programme on Wednesday morning. He was scheduled to reach Manali by the evening. However, he could not do so as heavy rain and stormy weather made it impossible for his helicopter to land at Bhuntar.

Mr Vajpayee flew straight to Chandigarh from where he returned to Delhi.

The Chief Minister, who accompanied the Prime Minister to Leh, also landed at Chandigarh and returned to Shimla by road.