Chandigarh, September 11
Haryana Chief Minister, Om Prakash Chautala said today that disputes could not be resolved with bullet, but only through dialogue. He said the peace process between India and Pakistan, initiated by former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, had now started gaining momentum.

Mr Chautala was addressing a gathering at Sodhra village in Gujaranwala district of Pakistan, the birth place of Bhai Kanhaiya, where he filled an urn with water to carry it to Haryana as a part of the 300th anniversary celebrations of “Bakhshish Diwas” of Bhai Kanhaiya, according to an official release.

Mr Chautala, who was emotionally touched by the warm welcome accorded to him and other members of a delegation visiting Pakistan by the people of Sodhra, expressed his desire to finance the setting up of a community centre in the village as a symbol of high ideals of Bhai Kanhaiya, who was an apostle of love, compassion and brotherhood.

He said on his return, he would share with the Government of India the need for liberalisation of visa regime.

Mr Chautala recited a couplet: “Ek Drakhat Aisa Mohabbat Ka Lagaya Jaye; Jiska Humsaye Ke Angan Main Bhi Saya Jaye.” (One must plant such a sapling of love, whose shadow would fall even on the neighbour’s house).

Earlier, on arrival at Sodhra, the delegation was received by the Chairman of the World Punjabi Congress in Pakistan, Mr Fakhar Zamman, and the District Nizam of Gujaranwala, Faiz Ahmad Chhatha.

A large number of persons standing along the road showered flower petals on the delegation and raised slogans of Indo-Pak friendship.

Apart from Mr Chautala, water was also drawn by four saints of the Sewapanthi Sect — Paramjit Singh, Karamjit Singh, Pritam Singh and Chamkaur Singh. The five urns of sacred water drawn from Sodhra would be brought to India on September 13. This water would be mingled with that of Anandpur Sahib in India and then taken in the form of a “harmony yatra” to various parts of Haryana to inspire the people with the high ideals of Bhai Kanhaiya, who did not differentiate between a friend and a foe while serving water.