Further to the latest news in the media on Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu going to Pakistan for Imran Khan’s ascending to the throne of Pakistan’s Premiership, let me quote one example of mine. It was about ten years back when I was in Kuwait, I wrote in the local daily “ARAB TIMES” asking Pakistanis and Indians in Kuwait, living with Hindi-Pakistani brotherhood, to establish an Association, “Indo - Pak Friendship Association” But the Indians from North India working in Kuwait alone rejected my proposal even dubbing me as pro-Pakistani while other Indians and Pakistanis welcomed it.
After establishment of this association I had great wish to discuss the issue of Kashmir where because of our ego we are losing thousands of our productive manpower and millions of our Rupees which are just a wastage to prevent Kashmiris on both the sides from becoming one. Kashmiris from both the sides will one day secede from the bondage they are undergoing now from India and Pakistan. And when they are released from the present bondage, we will regret for keeping them thus for such a long period thereby depriving them of their birth right to be free from the bondage. Didn’t the great Indian leader Lokhmanaya Tilak give a slogan “Freedom is my birth right?” Is it then right on our part to demand freedom for us with the excuse that it is our birth right and when the others request the same freedom from us, we deny them?
Regarding the Invite from Imran Khan to a few of his friends from India to join him in his Oath taking ceremony, I feel they all should have gone and attended the inaugural function where they should have whispered into the ears of Imran Khan to make all out efforts to create a peaceful atmosphere in Kashmir and elsewhere on our common border. By going there we would gain something at least but by not going, will we gain anything? NothiInding. Hence, it is better to go than not to go. We both Indians and Pskisatanis are suffering from revenge complex and because of this pride complex we are both suffering and will go on suffering. The onus for the creation of peaceful athmosphere between the two neighbours falls on India and as such India must walk the path very carefully.
A.Veronica Fernandes