South Asia Citizens Web

We, the Pakistani and Indian signatories of this joint statement, welcome the positive outcome of the just-concluded Pakistan-India foreign ministers’ talks in Islamabad, especially with regard to the newly announced liberalized and relaxed visa regime.

Class V and VIII History syllabus had stirred up a hornet’s nest last year while it was being framed since it had elements perceived as an attempt at giving a “saffron” tint to the text by the BJP government. An expert committee was appointed to look into these objections and some changes made relating to the glaring omissions and commissions. However, the collapsing of time and space of the Indus and Aryan periods of history had then not been pointed out.

The farmers, labourers, potters and fish workers in the Sardar Sarovar affected areas, many of whom are also affected by the canals of the Indira Sagar and Omkareshwar Projects and those affected by the Jobat Dam warn the Government of Madhya Pradesh against its totally insensitive attitude and illegal moves, destroying the lands and livelihoods of thousands of oustees affected by the Indira Sagar and Omkareshwar Projects.

The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL)’s recent announcement to conduct initial fuel loading (IFL) in Koodankulam Nuclear Power Station-1 on September 11th has met with general disapproval and serious apprehensions of possible police crackdown on Idinthakarai and other surrounding villages where people have been agitating against the project in consistently peaceful and democratic manner. While independent experts, eminent citizens and social figures have opposed commissioning of the reactor without addressing the crucial concerns, the People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) has declared that it will intensify the struggle on the ground through a Satyagraha starting 9th September.

It is high time the authorities looked into this extremely important subject that frames national identity. Generations have been fed­ on half truths and distorted facts.