After six years,Indo-Pak forum convention in Allahabad

“We were surprised when it was rejected for the first time,because it is an old forum and we never had any problems earlier,” said Secretary (PIPFPD-India Chapter),E Deenadayalan.

Secretary (UP chapter),Zafar Bakht,said: “I am not sure behind the reasons (for giving the security clearance). It may be because there are talks of Most Favoured Nation status being given to Pakistan by India. There could be other reasons too. But the good thing is that the initiative is being revived.”

It was,however,not without some lobbying at various fora that the Home Ministry re-considered the proposal.

“We approached some political personalities including the state Congress chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi,union minister Sriprakash Jaiswal and national secretary,Communist Party of India,D Raja. Further,former chairperson of the forum Ashok Mitra and National Advisory Council member Jean Dreze also wrote to the authorities concerned,including the Prime Minister,” said Bakht.

“After 2005,it was Pakistan’s turn to host the convention. But the conditions there deteriorated,due to which there were visa problems. Over time,we decided that we should take the initiative and revive it,” said Deenadayalan.

According to Deenadayalan,the reason for choosing Allahabad as the venue was the fact that it is a politically aware centre in India’s biggest state. “If the voice for bettering ties between peoples of the two countries comes from the state,which sends the maximum number of MPs to the Parliament,it is likely to help our cause,” said Deenadayalan. Bakht added: “Historically,what is today UP and Bihar were the main regions from where people gave the call for two separate nations. But,the two-nation theory has failed. It would,therefore,be significant to raise a voice for coming together of sorts between the peoples of the two countries from this place.”