Students from Chandigarh, Lahore talk of peace at Mohali

Wednesday March 30, 2011 09:12:48 PM, IANS

Mohali: "We all want love and brotherhood, not hatred", is the message youths from Chandigarh and Lahore were giving to people outside the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) Stadium here Wednesday while the high-voltage India-Pakistan World Cup cricket semifinal clash was on.

Volunteers of Chandigarh-based NGO Yuvsatta and students from the Institute for Peace and Secular Studies, Lahore, jointly distributed over 10,000 peace flags and around 20,000 love stickers, with flags of both the nations, among cricket fans going to the stadium to watch the match.

Ayesha Arif, a young film director from Lahore, said: "We have distributed thousands of peace flags among the youngsters and people of all age groups. We appeal to the decision makers of both countries to break the barriers and start an easy flow of people between the two countries. We all want love and brotherhood."

The students also signed an appeal, that will be sent to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and to his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani.

"We have appealed to both prime ministers to urgently implement the visa-on-arrival programme for young students and senior citizens of India and Pakistan," said Pramod Sharma, coordinator of Yuvsatta.

He added, "We want to replace the common misconceptions and myths about each other by the culture of hospitality and friendship that is characteristic of this part of South Asia."

India and Pakistan are playing against each other in the crucial semi-final match of the 2011 cricket World Cup.

"This was the best opportunity for us to convey the message of peace and love. People of both countries are alike and have no differences. We also invite Indian students and social activists to Lahore to take part in similar initiatives," said another student from Lahore.
 

                                           Home | Top of the Page

Top Stories

Fans blur battle lines between India and Pakistan

Everyone at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) Stadium had a whale of a time during the World Cup semifinal here Wednesday and  »

Patriotic fervour peaks hours before match

Pakistanis talk peace at Mohali

Peace between wickets: A political game

 Online cheer for Mohali - straight from the web

  Most Read

Egypt, Bhutan, Mohali... Changing scenarios as PM, Gilani meet again

A cricket stadium packed with Indians and Pakistani is a far cry from the formal confines of a room in a third country. But that was how it was for the prime ministers of the two countries, Manmohan   »

NIA claims breakthrough in Samjhauta blast case

The National Investigation Agency (NIA), India's premier anti-terror probe body, Wednesday claimed a "breakthrough" in the probe into the 2007 Samjhauta Express train blast that killed 68  »

'Aseemanand confesses his involvement in 2006 Malegaon blast'

  News Pick

Maharashtra minister has no time to meet Unani doctors protesting against discrimination

Despite intense heat in Mumbai, over 500 Unani doctors from various districts in  »

House Republicans introduce bill to halt US operation in Libya

Two Republicans in US House of Representatives have introduced a bill which seeks to put an end to US military involvement in  »

Gaddafi demands coalition stop 'genocide' on Libya

Gaddafi's blonde daughter campaigns for dad's troops

The 34-year-old blonde daughter of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi - who was a lawyer for Iraqi president Saddam Hussein - has now stepped out on a campaign to encourage his weary troops. Aisha - popularly known as "Claudia  »

NHRC notice to Chhattisgarh over attack on Swami Agnivesh

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notice to Chhattisgarh's chief secretary and police chief over the alleged attack   »

NHRC pulls up Haryana Police over gunfight deaths

Goa Church backs English as teaching medium

The Goa Church, which runs more than 100 educational institutions in the state, has backed English as a medium of instruction while supporters of regional languages plan to stage a mammoth rally against it. The Archdiocesan  »

Picture of the Day

Imam-e-Haram Dr Abdul Rahman As-Sudais laid the foundation stone of the Auditorium-cum-cultural centre at Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadees Complex, Okhla in Delhi on March 26, 2011. Dr As-Sudais is currently in India on the invitation of Jamiatul Ulema-e-Hind.