Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram has said India could go more than half way to have better ties with Pakistan as things improve, and pitched for consolidation of trade between the two countries.
“As things improve we could go more than half way to have better relations with Pakistan. Trade must resume with Pakistan. I sincerely hope it will come sooner than later,” Mr. Chidambaram said.
Mr. Chidambaram, who inaugurated a visitors’ gallery where freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru were cremated, said people living in border areas “carry with them a special burden and responsibility.”
He said Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhbir Singh Badal had been raising the problems of border villagers, including those faced by farmers in sowing on land beyond fencing, responding that the Union Home Ministry was addressing these issues.
Reacting to the demand for extended working hours for farmers during summer, Mr. Chidambram asked the DG BSF to opt for new timings of 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., instead of the hours of 7:30 am to 5:00 pm.
He also asked the DG to explore the possibility of providing power connection for tubewells installed beyond fencing.
Paying tribute to Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru, the Union Home Minister described Hussainiwala as “ Punya Bhoomi (sacred land)”.
He added that he was happy to lay the foundation stone of the viewers gallery where Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev were cremated.
“We are proud of the sacrifices made by freedom fighters for the freedom of our country”, Mr. Chidambaram said.
