CHENNAI: Veteran Gandhian and Member of Parliament Nirmala Deshpande on Friday asked the people to push forward the India-Pakistan peace process even while reiterating her appeal to leaders of both the countries "to take the last step boldly" to sign an agreement so that the people could live in peace.

Addressing a meeting at Thakkar Bapa Campus here on "Holistic Development of Relations Between India and Pakistan - a Gandhian Approach," Ms. Deshpande said though there were elements in both countries that were not for peace, finding a solution to bilateral issues through discussions and dialogue was "not an impossible dream." Referring to the bilateral talks being held at different levels, she said people of both the countries had realised that peace and normality had to be restored in the two countries to ensure their progress and well-being.

Improvement seen

Though a dismal picture was projected with regard to the peace process a few years ago, the Centre and Pakistan had taken the lead recently, thanks to the improvement in people-to-people contact, she said. Stressing the need for making the leaders of India and Pakistan to take the peace process forward, Ms. Deshpande said a "change in the mindset of the people" was essential to remove the mutual distrust through interaction between the people, more particularly the youth, of the two countries. She also called for steps to simplify procedures for issuance of visa.

Solution to major problems

She was optimistic of finding a just and humanitarian solution to major problems related to sharing river waters between the two countries.

Describing the Pokhran-II experiments in India and similar tests in Pakistan as measures "increasing the insecurity" of the countries, Ms. Deshpande said though there were people who felt proud to have nuclear weapons, time had come to realise the threats posed by them in view of the proximity of the two nations.

Joint efforts

People should jointly make efforts to persuade the two Governments to reduce their Defence budget and use their resources for education, health and employment, she added.

She also highlighted efforts made by Gandhian volunteers to "wean misguided youth" in Jammu and Kashmir away from the path of terrorism.

Terrorists posed a threat not only to India but also to Pakistan, she said.

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