The Hindu : Noor's father blames politicians for conflict

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jul 16, 2003

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Noor's father blames politicians for conflict

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE JULY 15 . Who benefits from tensions between India and Pakistan? "Only politicians, Army Generals, and multinational (MNC) defence companies,'' says Lahore-based Nadeem Sajjad, whose daughter, Noor Fatima, underwent open-heart surgery at the Narayana Hrudayalaya here today.

Mr. Sajjad, a chemical engineer, was speaking to presspersons after Noor's operation was successfully completed. According to him, the conflict between the two nations helped only the three groups mentioned. "The politicians utilise the situation, the Army Generals ask for more weapons, and the MNCs sell more weapons. They win, but the common man, whose son dies in this needless war, loses,'' he added. People in India and Pakistan did not want war, he stressed. As further proof of this "oneness'', he said his family had received many calls of support and good wishes. "I do not know whether the callers were Hindus, Muslims, or Sikhs,'' he pointed out.

Just after he had lashed out against politicians, Mr. Sajjad and his wife Tayyaba were taken aback by a "courtesy call'' from Allum Veerabhadrappa, Minister for Information, Ecology and Environment. The Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna, it appeared, wanted to greet the parents, but being held up in the Assembly, he sent his representative. The Minister, in turn, said the Government would give Rs. 10,000 from the CM's fund to Noor.

Meanwhile, "My School'' in Domlur had morning prayers for Noor and the school principal, Vidya, brought two of her LKG wards, Munaza Chand and Naveen Kumar, to the Narayana Hrudayalaya "to gift'' Noor's parents a card and bouquets. Asked if Munaza and Naveen knew who Noor was, Ms. Vidya admitted they did not. "But we have explained the whole thing to them,'' she said.

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