Citizens Groups respond to fire bombing of the train between India and Pakistan
(i)
20 Feb 2007
Pakistan-Indian Peoples' Forum for Peace and Democracy
condemns the fire bombing of Samjhauta Express
Pakistan-India Peoples’ Forum for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD) strongly condemns the vicious terrorist bombing of the Delhi-Lahore Samjhauta Express in which 67 people were killed and more than 50 injured. Indians and Pakistanis are united in their deep grief at this heinous crime that cannot be justified by any cause and we express our deep condolences to the families of the innocent victims of this act of terror.
The train symbolizes the deep desire of the peoples of India and Pakistan to have good neighbourly relations and it has served as a crucial lifeline to maintain people to people contacts across the border. The terror attack on the train and its timings indicates that its purpose was to derail the peace process and to undermine people to people contacts, which has been a significant component of the process of building peace between the two countries. PIPFPD urges that this tragic incident should not be allowed to disrupt the process of normalizing relations as had happened last July. In this context, PIPFD is deeply appreciative of the efforts of the governments of India and Pakistan to continue with the peace process, and welcomes the move to continue without interruption the train service and other cross border links. Let this become an opportunity to affirm the urgency of normalising relations in recognition of the people of India and Pakistan’s commitment to peace and friendship.
Tapan Kumar Bose
General Secretary
o o o
(ii)
Press Release
February 19, 2007
Terror Attack on Samjhauta Express
As citizens of India committed strongly committed to peaceful and fruitful relations between India and Pakistan as also unequivocally to lasting justice and peace between all communities within India, our heart goes out to all the victims of the recent terror attack on board the Samjhauta Express. The attack reveals above all, that terror and terrorism has no religion and victims of all communities, Muslim and Hindu, rich and poor can easily become the victims of such an attack. We offer our deepest condolences to all the affected families in this moment of grief.
We unequivocally condemn this attack that is an attempt not only to de-rail peace talks but also to create schisms and rifts between communities. We thank the political leadership of both countries for using sombre and sensitive language at such a time and urge them -- specifically the intelligence and investigative authorities of India-- to go further and rigorously investigate and get to the bottom of such an attack.
Outfits of terror have no religion and should never be equated as such. The language and acts of terror can be perpetrated by fanatic outfits within any and all social, political and religious sections. Similarly victims of terror as today’s brutal incident shows, can hail and do hail from all sections. Terror and terrorism can be home grown as well as imported; both equally are not just anti-national, they strike at the fabric of our nation because they create schisms between communities.
Vijay Tendulkar, President CJP
Dr Prabhat Patnaik, noted economist
Teesta Setalvad, Secretary, CJP and co-editor Communalism Combat
Arvind Krishnaswamy, Treasurer, CJP,
Javed Akhtar, CJP and Muslims for Secular Democracy (MSD),
CP Chandraskehar, economist, JNU,
Javed Anand, CJP and MSD,
Nandan Maluste, CJP,
Anil Dharker, CJP,
Rajendra Prasad, SAHMAT
Ram Rehman, SAHMAT,
MK Raina, SAHMAT,
Hasan Kamal, MSD,
Rahul Bose, CJP
20 Feb 2007
Pakistan-Indian Peoples' Forum for Peace and Democracy
condemns the fire bombing of Samjhauta Express
Pakistan-India Peoples’ Forum for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD) strongly condemns the vicious terrorist bombing of the Delhi-Lahore Samjhauta Express in which 67 people were killed and more than 50 injured. Indians and Pakistanis are united in their deep grief at this heinous crime that cannot be justified by any cause and we express our deep condolences to the families of the innocent victims of this act of terror.
The train symbolizes the deep desire of the peoples of India and Pakistan to have good neighbourly relations and it has served as a crucial lifeline to maintain people to people contacts across the border. The terror attack on the train and its timings indicates that its purpose was to derail the peace process and to undermine people to people contacts, which has been a significant component of the process of building peace between the two countries. PIPFPD urges that this tragic incident should not be allowed to disrupt the process of normalizing relations as had happened last July. In this context, PIPFD is deeply appreciative of the efforts of the governments of India and Pakistan to continue with the peace process, and welcomes the move to continue without interruption the train service and other cross border links. Let this become an opportunity to affirm the urgency of normalising relations in recognition of the people of India and Pakistan’s commitment to peace and friendship.
Tapan Kumar Bose
General Secretary
o o o
(ii)
Press Release
February 19, 2007
Terror Attack on Samjhauta Express
As citizens of India committed strongly committed to peaceful and fruitful relations between India and Pakistan as also unequivocally to lasting justice and peace between all communities within India, our heart goes out to all the victims of the recent terror attack on board the Samjhauta Express. The attack reveals above all, that terror and terrorism has no religion and victims of all communities, Muslim and Hindu, rich and poor can easily become the victims of such an attack. We offer our deepest condolences to all the affected families in this moment of grief.
We unequivocally condemn this attack that is an attempt not only to de-rail peace talks but also to create schisms and rifts between communities. We thank the political leadership of both countries for using sombre and sensitive language at such a time and urge them -- specifically the intelligence and investigative authorities of India-- to go further and rigorously investigate and get to the bottom of such an attack.
Outfits of terror have no religion and should never be equated as such. The language and acts of terror can be perpetrated by fanatic outfits within any and all social, political and religious sections. Similarly victims of terror as today’s brutal incident shows, can hail and do hail from all sections. Terror and terrorism can be home grown as well as imported; both equally are not just anti-national, they strike at the fabric of our nation because they create schisms between communities.
Vijay Tendulkar, President CJP
Dr Prabhat Patnaik, noted economist
Teesta Setalvad, Secretary, CJP and co-editor Communalism Combat
Arvind Krishnaswamy, Treasurer, CJP,
Javed Akhtar, CJP and Muslims for Secular Democracy (MSD),
CP Chandraskehar, economist, JNU,
Javed Anand, CJP and MSD,
Nandan Maluste, CJP,
Anil Dharker, CJP,
Rajendra Prasad, SAHMAT
Ram Rehman, SAHMAT,
MK Raina, SAHMAT,
Hasan Kamal, MSD,
Rahul Bose, CJP
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