PM returns favour, snubs Sena

Earlier, chastising Shiv Sainiks for digging up the Ferozeshah Kotla pitch, Vajpayee said, “There’s nothing brave in digging up the pitch under the cover of darkness. If they want to fight, they should go and fight on the border.” Dismissing the incident as a “prank by a handful of persons,” Vajpayee told a delegation of eminent sportspersons–who met him under the aegis of Save Sports Campaign’ and presented a memorandum protesting against the digging of the pitch–that sports and politics should not bemixed.

The Government has resolved to ensure the tour went ahead without any hitch, despite threats by the Shiv Sena that it would disrupt the series, he said.

The Prime Minister told the group, led by cricketer-turned-politician Kirti Azad, that he had asked Sena activists to stop their campaign against the tour and the Delhi-Lahore bus service as they had already expressed their protest.

The delegation, which met the Prime Minister at his Race Course Road residence, included former India skipper Bishan Singh Bedi, Maninder Singh, Atul Wassan, Vivek Razdan, Gursharan Singh, ace shooter Jaspal Rana, swimmer Khajan Singh and former badminton star Dinesh Khanna. Former hockey stars Ajit Pal Singh, Harbinder Singh, M K Kaushik, Inam-ur-Rehman, Ashok Dewan and Nandi Singh were also present.

In their memorandum, they urged the Prime Minister to talk to his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif and reiterate his government’s unequivocal position regarding the holding of the tour, to “instil confidence in thesport-loving public of the other country (Pakistan).”

The PM’s statement, analysts said, underline the government’s intention to initiate good neighbourly relations with India’s smaller neighbours. Since the nuclear tests in May and New Delhi’s consequent isolation abroad, the PM has gradually come to realise that unless the region begins to trust in a benign India, its foreign policy achievements will never be complete.

It is in this context that the PM has been pushing for a better people-to-people approach with New Delhi’s neighbours, especially Pakistan. He received the official bus delegation from Lahore today, saying that contacts like the bus service, simplified visa procedures, sporting contacts, would definitely help improve bilateral relations.

“We want friendly relations with Pakistan and stress must be laid on more people-to-people contacts,” Vajpayee told the Pakistani officials. He said efforts would be made to reduce tedious Customs procedures at the border.

During the 15-minutemeeting, the Prime minister also talked about how roads could be improved between the two cities and more facilities provided to the passengers. There was also talk about how both sides could now start another bus service from Kokrapar across the border into Rajasthan.

Sainiks are ready to fight on border: Thackeray

Reacting to Vajpayee’s statement, an angry Sena chief defended the act of Sainiks vandalising the Ferozeshah Kotla pitch in Delhi on January 6 and said, “Guerrilla tactics are to be carried out in the cover of darkness only”.

At Vajpayee’s suggestion, the Sena chief in a statement said, “With due respect to jawans and considering their problems, no government has been able to protect our borders. However, if provided with modern weapons, our Sainiks would protect the country’s borderline”, adding, “Give it a try if you want to”.

Terming Vajpayee’s statement as “unfortunate”, Thackeray said, “It is indeed sad that gallantry (of the Government), which should be displayedagainst our enemies, is being shown to the patriots of this nation”.