Hostility between India and Pakistan fuelling extremism – Qureshi

‘Peace in the world is hinging on the cordial relations between the hostile South Asian neighbours, India and Pakistan. Peace between India and Pakistan is not only necessary for sustaining economic growth but also vital for building pluralistic democracies and sustaining the integrity of both states. South Asia today stands suspended between the hope of a better life and fear of cataclysmic destruction. It is not only the poorest region in the world but also one whose citizens live in constant danger of a nuclear holocaust. Not only is this but it an empirically established reality that hostility between India and Pakistan is fuelling radicalisation not only in South Asia but rest of the world as well. A 50 years No War Pact is imminent to allow state resources to be channelized to the development of hundreds of millions of underprivileged and impoverished of both the nations.’

These thoughts were expressed by Toaha Qureshi MBE, Chairman Forum for International Relations Development on the occasions to express support of Pakistani community to install a Saint Basaweshwara statue, a 12th century reformist believed to be the earliest torchbearer of democracy and anti-cast system in the then unified India.

Councillor Dr Neeraj Patil, who served as Mayor of Lambeth last year, is championing the project for the installation of a statue of Basaweshwara in Albert Embankment Gardens in Lambeth borough of London, United Kingdom. Indian Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh and British Prime Minister David Cameron are expected to unveil the approx. half a million pounds project mainly financed by the community.

R. Ashok, Home Minister Karnataka expressed his full support on behalf of his party, Bharatiya Janata Party to the peace initiative by the British Indian and Pakistani community. He expressed his pleasure on the peaceful coexistence of Indian and Pakistani community in the United Kingdom. He applauded the values of the Palace of Westminster, and the values of Lambeth borough, where people lived and flourished together, regardless of race, sexuality, class, colour or creed. He commented that except for few group with vested interests, peace in the South Asia is a much sought after dream for the majority of masses.

At the end of the event, Toaha Qureshi was garlanded for his peace initiative in typical North Karnataka style. The meeting was attended by a large number of peace activists and community leaders from India and Pakistan.