M A I N   N E W S

Truce bold step: President
Hopes for end to hostilities
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Jan 25 — President K.R. Narayanan today described the declaration of unilateral ceasefire in the strife-torn state of Jammu and Kashmir as a “bold and imaginative” measure, which had attracted the attention of the world.

In his address to the nation on the eve of the 52nd Republic Day, the President said the step initiated by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had gladdened the hearts of the people of Kashmir, who have been suffering from acts of violence by militants and terrorists. He hoped the “people at the other end” will realise the futility of their hostility and respond to our gestures of peace and friendship.

Mr Narayanan said India had always thought of the world and the happiness of the world, especially its neighbours, and he had no doubt that “through the firmness of our determination and the exercise of our traditional tolerance, India will triumph in the end”.

The President said, “On this Republic Day, let us think of peace and work for it sincerely and tenaciously so that we can get rid of the scourge of terrorism from this land.

Mr Narayanan touched on a wide range of problems facing the country and stressed that the youth, who would form almost two-thirds of the country’s population, should be applauded and encouraged, “for they are our pride and our future”. He also touched upon environmental degradation and said development should not mean building “on the destruction of the green earth and the innocent tribals who have been living there for centuries”.

While “the awakening of women and youth is something that gives us hope”, Mr Narayanan said the march of development was having different kinds of impact on different sections of the people. It tended to “widen the existing inequalities and create new inequalities” and said the backward classes were the greatest sufferers in this process.

Referring to the large river valley projects that uprooted tribals causing them untold misery, the President said one precondition for such development projects should be to explain the benefits of the projects to the tribals and consult them with regard to protection of their livelihood and cultures. When they have to be displaced, the resettlement schemes should be discussed with them and implemented with sincerity as this could avoid many critical situations.

The President criticised demands for introducing a system of indirect elections in the country. Lauding the “audacious and revolutionary act” and the faith shown by the founding fathers of the Constitution in giving the right of franchise to every adult citizen, he said, “it was necessary to look back to this faith when we hear voices pleading for a system of indirect elections.”

He said the framers of the Constitution had the wisdom and foresight not to overemphasise the importance of stability and uniformity in the political system. He noted that the right of adult franchise was something for which countries of the West had to struggle for almost 100 years.

Recalling events in neighbouring Pakistan, he said, “It would be an irony of history if we invoke today in the name of Mahatma Gandhi, Father of the Nation, the shadows of the political ideas of Field Marshal Ayub Khan, father of military rule in Pakistan.

Mr Narayanan said it was important to remember that it was under the flexible and spacious provisions of the Constitution that democracy had flourished during the past 50 years and the country had achieved unprecedented unity and cohesion as a nation and made remarkable progress in the social and economic fields. We have managed to accommodate the globalisation process without losing our distinctiveness as a culture and a civilisation and without compromising the independence we secured after a long and heroic struggle.

While the nation still had to abolish illiteracy and poverty from the land, Mr Narayanan was confident the new tools of science and technology and the determined efforts of the government and the people of the country would help in conquering these problems. “We have to do this by keeping ourselves in step with world developments”, he added.

Referring to growing privatisation as keeping “pace with world developments”, the President said it was important while making changes in policy to recognise the contributions made by the country in its earlier stage of development. The growth of the public sector had made it possible for the private sector to expand and flourish. He said the liberalisation and globalisation of the economy today was possible because of the results of the success of earlier policies.

Noting that India in the 21st century was predominantly a young country with two-thirds of the population belonging to the 15 to 35 years age group, he said the older generation should set an example for them, and should applaud and encourage the new spirit of Indian youth for they “are our pride and our future.” He referred in this connection to the children he had awarded for bravery and achievements by young people like world chess champion Vishwanathan Anand who was an inspiration to all young people in the country.

Noting that 2001 had been declared as the “year of women’s empowerment”, Mr Narayanan said the “responsibility of the men of India in this matter is clear and unavoidable”. He referred to the empowerment of women at the panchayat, block and district level and said it was logical to carry forward the process of empowerment of women to the state legislatures and to Parliament.

“The empowerment of women in politics might well be a decisive factor that will purify and save the democratic politics of India from deterioration of standards and values it is experiencing today”, he added.

USA tells ultras to stop violence
Asks Pakistan to use influence

WASHINGTON, Jan 25 (PTI) — The USA today asked militants to “halt violence” in Jammu and Kashmir and the Pakistan government to “use its influence” on them in this regard to enhance the peace process initiated by India.

Praising India’s decision to extend its unilateral ceasefire in the state for another month, State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher said: “We think it’s a good thing. We welcome the announcement.”

“.....We believe the peace process would be greatly enhanced if the Kashmiri militant groups responded positively to India’s announcement by taking steps to halt the violence. We would encourage all parties to take initiatives to reduce violence and foster a process to end the conflict in Kashmir.”

He said the Pakistan government should also “use its influence with the militant groups to urge them to halt the violence.”

Mr Boucher said the USA always maintained that “all groups, everybody, involved, should halt the violence and be involved in the (peace) process.”