The Hindu : National : Condolences pour in from Pakistan for Nirmala Deshpande

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Tuesday, May 06, 2008
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Condolences pour in from Pakistan for Nirmala Deshpande

Nirupama Subramanian

ISLAMABAD: Condolences continue to pour in from Pakistan over the death of Rajya Sabha member Nirmala Deshpande, a champion of peace and friendship between the two countries and its peoples.

In separate messages, National Speaker Fehmida Mirza and Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim described her as a “torchbearer” of India-Pakistan peace and friendship, and said her death was an “irreparable loss to India as well as Pakistan.”

Earlier, Pakistan People’s Party chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gillani and Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Altaf Hussain sent condolence messages.

Mr. Zardari said Deshpande was one of the “most respected goodwill ambassadors whose pioneering work in improving relations between the two countries would be long remembered.”

He said all those who wish to see greater people-to-people contacts between the two countries for promoting peace and stability in the region will remember her with affection and respect.

“Working for peace and harmony without causing harm to anyone, Nirmala Deshpande, when alive was at peace with herself and in peace she died,” Mr. Zardari said.

Memorial meeting

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan is holding a memorial meeting in Deshpande’s honour on Wednesday in Lahore.

In a warm tribute in the Dawn, journalist Beena Sarwar recalled Deshpande’s personal welcome to Pakistani delegates at the World Socialist Forum in Mumbai in 2004, and lauded her role in the Pakistan-India Peoples’ Forum for Peace and Democracy (PIPFPD), and other forums for promoting peace between the two countries.

The Dawn also reported that Pakistani peace activists of the PIPFPD, who attended her funeral, will bring her ashes to Pakistan to immerse them in the River Indus.

Rajya Sabha pays tributes

Special Correspondent writes from New Delhi

The Rajya Sabha on Monday mourned the death of its sitting member Nirmala Deshpande and adjourned for the day without transacting any business as a mark of respect.

Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari made a reference to the passing away of Deshpande on May 1 as soon as the House met for the day. She was 79.

Mr. Ansari said Deshpande was a “true disciple” of Vinoba Bhave and “worked tirelessly” for peace and harmony between India and Pakistan and also strove for peace in militancy-hit Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.

The House observed a minute of silence in her memory after which Mr. Ansari adjourned it till Tuesday.

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