India yesterday called on the South Asian countries to join hands to tackle terrorism.
"The scourge of terrorism has taken a huge toll on all our societies. It is a cancer that, if not checked, will consume us all," said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh while inaugurating the fifth conference of the Association of Saarc Speakers and Parliamentarians.
He said the South Asian region cannot realise its full potential unless and until the region solves its differences peacefully and develops the culture of solving its problems on its own.
"Others cannot solve our problems for us," he told the gathering of speakers and parliamentarians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Maldives and Nepal.
The Bangladesh delegation at the three-day conference is headed by Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Abdul Hamid.
Singh said the countries of the region shared a cultural heritage. "We celebrate our pluralism and diversity of religion, language and culture while finding our strength in unity. We must learn to speak with one voice on the common challenges that face us."
Indian Parliament Speaker Meira Kumar greeted the delegates at the Central Hall of Parliament. She welcomed Afghanistan, the newest member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) formed in 1995.
"As parliamentarians, we are the keepers of the people's will and therefore it is our responsibility to understand and appreciate the power of democratic institutions, especially those that encourage social cohesion and inclusiveness," Kumar said.
Source : The Daily Star
