Fizaa Zaruur Badlii Hai

Speech by the visiting BJP president at a function organised by the South Asian Free Media Association(SAFMA). Lahore, June 2, 2005.

I am delighted to be here in Lahore at this function organized by the South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA).

In a very short period since its inception in 2000, SAFMA has emerged as an authentic and credible platform of journalists belonging to SAARC countries.

For instance, I was struck by the very theme of SAFMA’s recent conclave of parliamentarians: "Evolving South Asian Fraternity."

The word "Fraternity" has a very powerful resonance to it, the more so in view of the reality of tension and hostilities that marked, until recently, the relations between two major countries in South Asia – India and Pakistan.

I want to compliment SAFMA for spreading the message of South Asian Fraternity through various initiatives. These initiatives have the potential to make a far-reaching impact. It would not be an exaggeration to say that, by sketching the future scenario of a South Asian Fraternal Community, your forum has scripted the trailer of the things that could happen in South Asia in the 21st century.

South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA), South Asian Customs Union, South Asian Common Currency, South Asian Energy Grid, South Asian Development Bank, South Asian Cooperative Security, South Asian Human Security, South Asian Human Rights Code, South Asian Protocol for Free Movement of Mediapersons and Media Products – the range of issues that are currently being discussed is as vast as it is invigorating.

Only about a fortnight ago, seven Members of Parliament belonging to my party, the BJP, had come to Pakistan to participate in SAFMA’s Parliamentary Forum. After their return to India, they briefed me about the very fruitful conclave your platform had organized at Islamabad and Bhurban. They also gave me a copy of the Bhurban Declaration, which I have gone through carefully.

Let me read out just one inspiring paragraph from the Bhurban Declaration.

"Let a South Asian fraternity benefit from the fruits of the new era of peace in which our people could become the master of their destiny while contributing tremendously to the progress of whole humanity regardless of geography, ethnicity, nationhood, gender, creed and colour. This is a historic moment when the people of South Asia have recognized that they have a new tryst with destiny. They are affirming that their security and well being lies not in inter-state conflict but in their peaceful resolution and cooperation. Let the governments hearken to the call of the people."

Credit must primarily go to the people

I want to repeat the line: "Let the governments hearken to the call of the people."

I can say that, in the case of the ongoing peace process between India and Pakistan, both the governments have responded to the call of the people.

Indeed, when I met your President, General Pervez Musharraf, day before yesterday in Islamabad, he described the phenomenon in a rather dramatic manner. "The people have taken over the peace process." He meant that it is no longer the governments or political parties that are driving the peace process, but primarily the people of both India and Pakistan.

In my meetings with various leaders and also in my press interactions in Islamabad, I too said that the credit for the amazing transformation in the atmosphere surrounding the bilateral relations between our two countries must go the awaam – the people. It has been brought about by the steadily increasing people-to-people contacts at various levels between India and Pakistan.

Indeed, in my statement on the eve of my departure from Delhi, I said, "Credit must be given to the valuable contribution being made by civil society representatives such as mediapersons, businessmen, lawyers, artists and cultural personalities."

SAFMA’s contribution in this regard has been truly outstanding.

Friends, I have come to Lahore today after spending two very fruitful days in Islamabad. My talks with President Musharraf, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Maulana Fazlur Rahman, Speaker of the National Assembly Chaudhary Amir Hussain, Chairman of the Senate Mohammadmian Soomro, leaders of PPP and others were marked by warmth, candour and, above all, a sense of earnestness about the need to take the peace process forward.

What also left an indelible impression on me – and I consider it to be an important turning point in the relations between India and Pakistan -- was my visit to Katas Raj this morning. For this, I sincerely thank the government and the people of Pakistan. However, I owe a debt of gratitude especially towards Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain, President of the Pakistan Muslim League – a debt which I don’t think I’ll ever be able to repay.

It was truly an honour for me personally, but more so a gesture of immense symbolic value for the people of India, that I was invited to lay the foundation stone for the project to restore the historic Hindu Temples at Katas Raj in Chakwal district, which have a deep significance for Hindus all over the world.

Legend has it that, it was at the pond at Katas that the Yaksha and Yudhishthir (Dharmaraj), the eldest of the five Pandava brothers in the epic Mahabharata, had their famous question-answer session. Yaksha’s questions and Yudhishthir’s answers have a profound philosophical message which is relevant even to modern times.

I was told that it is the first time since 1947 that an Indian political personality has been invited in a project aimed at the restoration of Hindu temples in Pakistan.

I was heartened to hear that the restoration project would be carried out through cooperation between archeological experts from Pakistan and India. I was also told that, after restoration, the temples would be made "living temples" – meaning that they would be open for devotees to come and worship. I hope that in the near future it would be possible for pilgrims from India to visit Katas Raj.

There was a brief but moving reception for me at a nearby village after our visit to the temples. I was truly overwhelmed by the warmth and affection of the people.

Fiza badli hai

Life is always a saga of surprises and discoveries. And there was indeed a very pleasant surprise waiting for me at the reception. Among those who greeted me, and presented to me a large photograph of the cluster of Katas Raj Temples, was Raja Mohammed Ali from village Gah in Chakwal district, who was a classmate of our Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in the primary school.

After witnessing and experiencing all this, I have to say that "Fiza zaroor badli hai." (The atmosphere has indeed changed.)

Yesterday I visited Takshasila near Islamabad. I also visited the beautiful Lok Virsa museum, which showcases the cultural and artistic heritage of your country. I was also highly impressed by the Faisal Mosque, which I visited day before yesterday. And today I had the deeply moving experience of visiting Katas Raj.

I must confess that I am somewhat at a loss to articulate the totality of my feelings and thoughts after this combined experience. I can only recall the words of a journalist friend of mine in New Delhi, who incidentally has played an important role in facilitating dialogue when the atmosphere was not so good as it is today. In a letter written to me before my departure for Pakistan, he said, "Best wishes. Your visit will hopefully make you realize, as I have come to realize, that there is a little bit of India in every Pakistani and a little bit of Pakistan in every Indian."

Six points for the way forward for the peace process

Friends, as I said, the atmosphere has indeed changed for the better. At the same time, I could see in all my interactions in Islamabad that there is a keen desire for steady movement forward with tangible achievements as we move forward. I fully share this desire.

I shall not go into specifics. I have already explained my reasons for not doing so.

However, at this forum I would like to leave six broad thoughts on how we may be able to take the peace process forward.

Firstly, I would also like all the people of Pakistan to know that neither the BJP nor for that matter, any section of India’s polity wishes ill towards Pakistan. Let there be no place for anti-Indianism in Pakistan, and no place for anti-Pakistanism in India.

Specifically, as far as my party is concerned, I would like all the people of Pakistan to know that the emergence of India and Pakistan as two separate, sovereign and independent nations is an unalterable reality of history. I am stating this only because I find that there are still some misconceptions and false propaganda about what the BJP thinks of Pakistan. In fact, this propaganda has no legs to stand[on] now, since it is a BJP-led government which started the peace process in 1999 and steadfastly continued it throughout the six years we were in office. Even now, when we are in the opposition, we have been supporting it equally vigorously.

Secondly, both Indians and Pakistanis have to recognize and respect each other’s desire for sovereignty, security, prosperity, unity and territorial integrity of their respective countries. No solution to any of the outstanding issues between India and Pakistan, including the issue of Jammu & Kashmir, can work if it erodes the sovereignty, security, unity and territorial integrity of the two countries.

Thirdly, no solution can work if it is sought through non-peaceful means. It is for this reason that I consider the Joint Statement of January 2004, issued after a meeting between Prime Minister Vajpayee and President Musharraf on the sidelines of the SAARC summit in Islamabad, as a real turning point in our bilateral relations. The contents and commitments of that Joint Statement flowed from a mutual understanding that terrorism is indeed an enemy of the entire humanity, and can have no protection in any civilized country.

Fourthly, for any mutually acceptable solution to emerge, the ruling establishments and the opposition in both India and Pakistan have to work together in a spirit of consensus.

Fifthly, in respect of the issue of Jammu & Kashmir, any eventual solution has to be acceptable to both India and Pakistan, as well as to all sections of the diverse communities that constitute the state.

Lastly, we should proceed in tandem on all the outstanding issues, without letting slow progress on any particular issue become a hurdle in the search for faster progress on other issues. Both sides must realize that issues that are complex, contentious and have a long history of producing tension and hostilities require time for resolution. There is no substitute for patience, just as there is no substitute for sustained, uninterrupted dialogue in an atmosphere of mutual trust and one that is free of violence.

I am confident that these six points amply clarify my views, and my party’s views, on the road forward for the peace process.