Media can play important role in building up Indo-Pak relations :CM

5 Dariya News (Vijyender  Sharma)

Shimla 22-Feb-2013

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh while presiding over the 'Samman Samaroh'  organised  here last evening by Press Club Shimla in honour of visiting delegation of Press Club Lahore and Chandigarh, said that India was a peace loving nation and always endeavoured to build cordial relations with its neighbouring countries. He said that India always wished that its neighbours should flourish for the cause of their nations which would go a long way in strengthening the bonds of fraternity. He said that both the countries should ignore petty incidents occurring along the international borders and should not propel the incidents which lead to tension and affects the relations. He said that both the countries want peace to be established as there was no barrier of language, culture and custom between the people of two countries.  

Chief Minister said that media can play an important role in strengthening the relations between India and Pakistan so that the coming generations could shred the feeling of insecurity. He said that to build stronger relations both the countries should involve themselves in trade and other constructive activities. He said that the people of India particularly Himachal Pradesh had strong bonds with the people of Pakistan as many of them got their education from Lahore which was considered a premier education centre during pre-partition era.

Chief Minister also honoured the Presidents of Press Club Lahore (Pakistan) and Chandigarh on the occasion. Virbhadra Singh people of both the nations want peace and relations to be strengthened.Both the Lahore and Chandigarh Press Clubs honoured Shri Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister, Shri  Mukesh Agnihotri, Industries and Information and Public Relations Minister, Shri C.D. Thakur, Director, Information and Public Relations with memento and shawl.

While welcoming the delegates of Lahore Press Club, Chief Minister said that such tradition should be made a routine affair which would build mutual understanding and trust between people of both the nations.Arshad Ansari, President, Lahore Press Club stressed for cordial relations between India and Pakistan and said that as there was  lot of similarity between both the countries and the people as well, he promised that Pakistan media would certainly strive for developing a positive image of both the nations.

Sukhbir Singh Bajwa, President, Press Club Chandigarh also spoke on the occasion.Earlier, Shri Gian Thakur, President, Press Club Shimla welcomed the Chief Minister and members of Lahore and Chandigarh Press Clubs.Shri Mukesh Agnihotri, Industries and Information and Public Relations Minister, Shri V.C. Pharka, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Shri Narender Chauhan, Principal Secretary, PWD, Shri Dinesh Malhotra, Deputy Commissioner and senior officers of the State Government were present on the occasion.