The Hindu : National : Arafat was a patriot and India's friend: Manmohan

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Nov 13, 2004

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Arafat was a patriot and India's friend: Manmohan

By Our Special Correspondent

The Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, paying homage to the Palestine Liberation Organisation Chairman,Yasser Arafat, at the Palestine Embassy in New Delhi on Friday. — Photo: V. Sudershan

NEW DELHI, NOV. 12. The Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, today described the late Palestinian Liberation Organisation Chairman, Yasser Arafat, as a great leader of the Palestinian struggle. As a mark of respect, the Government of India has declared three days of mourning.

Dr. Singh, who visited the Palestinian Embassy to sign the condolence book, wrote that Chairman Arafat was a "patriot and friend" of India. "We salute Arafat's dedication to the cause and join his people in mourning the passing away of the great leader."

"His life symbolises the struggle of the Palestinian people in their quest for a State and a homeland," the Prime Minister said in his tribute to Yasser Arafat, using his nom de guerre, "Abu Ammar", at one place.

The Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, too, visited the embassy and signed the condolence book. She wrote, "President Arafat had a very special presence in the hearts of Indian people. We admire his extraordinary courage and perseverance. His dedication to the people and the sensitive cause was beyond comparison. His wholehearted support for the case was admirable."

"I am personally deeply grieved at his passing away. Arafat possessed a lot of warmth and charm. He was a cherished friend of our family. Let us resolve to rededicate ourselves to the fulfilment of his dream," she remarked.

There was some official indication that Ms. Gandhi might travel to Cairo for Arafat's funeral, but it did not happen. According to official sources, there were some security concerns involving travel at short notice for her.

No BJP nominee

The sources said senior Bharatiya Janata Party leaders were asked to provide a party nominee to join the official delegation, led by the External Affairs Minister, Natwar Singh, but no names were provided by the BJP till the delegation left for Cairo last evening.

The Ministry of External Affairs yesterday described

President Yasser Arafat as a "towering and highly respected international personality who fought selflessly and courageously, at great personal sacrifice, for the Palestinian cause and an independent homeland for the Palestinian people, to which he dedicated his whole life."

"India has consistently supported the Palestinian struggle for independence, and was the first non-Arab country to recognise the PLO as the sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. He enjoyed great respect and admiration among the people and leaders of India, and will always be remembered as a sincere and steadfast friend of India. The people of India share the grief of the leadership of the Palestinian National Authority and the people of Palestine at the passing away of a great patriot and statesman," it said in a statement.

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