Citizens hold sadbhavana march in Shimla
A sadbhavana march was held today to maintain peace and communal harmony in Shimla city and across the state. People belonging to different communities, civil society groups and social organisations participated in the march.
Former public representatives, a few retired IAS officers and professors led the march. The objective of the march was to reiterate the secular character of the city and its residents and protect and promote peace and communal harmony. “The city has not seen communal tension in the past. The people of different faiths have been living here peacefully for decades and the environment of peaceful coexistence should not be spoiled,” said Sanjay Chauhan, a former Mayor of Shimla.
Members of the Muslim community, who had been subdued since the trouble due to the mosque in Sanjauli started, participated in the march in a large number. “I am living in Shimla since 1963 and it’s the first time we have heard the Hindu-Muslim rhetoric. It’s heartening to see that people have come out to protect communal harmony in the city and the state. Hopefully, the march will send out a positive message and we will continue living peacefully with each other,” said an elderly Muslim.
Kashmiri Khans, who had been an integral part of the city for decades now, also came out in a good number. “We have been working here for decades without any trouble. We have seen what kind of impact the unrest has on tourism and businesses. We hope normalcy will be restored soon,” said a Kashmiri Khan.
The march, which started from outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office, ended in front of the Mahatma Gandhi’s statue on The Ridge. The participants took a pledge to protect and promote peace and harmony in the state.
