Ghazanfar Abbas, IndiaTomorrow.net,
New Delhi, Nov 02: Eminent faces of Delhi civil society came together here today to express their deep concern on the current warmongering in the subcontinent particularly between India and Pakistan.
“Does a common citizen want war? Whenever there is a warmongering, it is said that it is people’s opinion…Dialogue is the solution; war is not the solution. Common people on both sides want peace not war,” said eminent environment activist Priya Pillai while addressing a press conference here along with civil rights activists John Dayal, Shabnam Hashmi and others.
The press conference was to brief the media about their upcoming campaign Joint Action Against Warmongering (2-9 Nov).
“This campaign is also to say – please don’t do warmongering in my name. I don’t war. Don’t make your political gain on my name. This is your diversion tactics. Elections are coming in UP, so this tactic is to divert attention from real issues like oppression on Adivasi, land acquisition bill, Bhopal encounter case, Dadri case. Today there is no talk on development,” said Priya.
Addressing the press conference, Shabnam Hashmi said, “This warmongering is a conspiracy to divert from the issues and all the hate is being spread to wage war against Pakistan. All this play of nationalism is going on because promises were not delivered.”
“Don’t use pen for war; rather against war. Common people don’t want war,” she said.
Civil rights activist Kavita Krishnan said, “War mongering is creating and spreading hatred among people in India. Pakistan and India should talk along with Kashmir. A soldier has just committed suicide yesterday here. If PM is really concerned towards soldiers he should see why soldiers are compelled to take such steps.”
To lend her support to the civil campaign against war, Gurmehar Kaur, daughter of Capt. Mandeep Singh who was killed during the Kargil war in 1999, also came up and expressed her views against war.
“I lost my father in Kargil war. Four wars have already happened. No more. If you are a better citizen why aren’t you working for country’s development and to eradicate social evils,” asked Gurmehar while talking to IndiaTomorrow.net.
“All the money which will be wasted can be spent on education and jobs and women safety,” she said.
“I want to say the youth who are being targeted to make their mind for war — Please improve those things which are needed for real development like women safety and cleanness of our cities. If you love your country do those things which develop your country rather to support war. And media people should take responsibility and tell the people how war will impact people’s life as they are also the citizen of this country first,” she said.
Dr John Dayal while expressing concern on shrinking space of dissent said, “If Admiral Ramdas speaks against war, he is called anti national. This kind of environment is in our country today.”
Woman activist and member of AIDWA Maimoona Mulla said, “It is being played with the emotions of people. War mongering is to polarize people.”
“Jang ke khilaf ye hamari jang hai (This is our war against war). The money is being invested on arms. If it is used for welfare of people, many good things can be achieved,” she said.
