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Fernandes to lead peace march

By Our Special Correspondent

AHMEDABAD APRIL 21. A meeting of prominent citizens held here today under the chairmanship of Defence Minister, George Fernandes, decided to take out a `peace march' here on April 28 . Mr. Fernandes will lead the march.

After visiting Mehsana, Baroda, Godhra and other riot-affected areas, Mr. Fernandes, returned here to chair the meeting before leaving for Kutch to review the situation at the international border with Pakistan.

He said the people of the State were craving for peace and all sections would have to contribute for this.

Later talking to mediapersons, he enquired about the violence in Ahmedabad and other towns and said "some elements'' were bent upon fomenting trouble and hoped that the inquiry by the State and the Central Government agencies into the post-Godhra violence would be able to identify them. He advised the media to play a "constructive role'' in achieving peace in the State.

The joint statement issued at the end of the meeting and signed by Mr. Fernandes, the Minister of State, Harin Pathak, the president of the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and several non-government organisations, said all efforts must be made to restore confidence among the people of the two communities.

'No Army withdrawal'

UNI, PTI report:

Mr. Fernandes said a decision regarding the withdrawing the Army from Gujarat would be taken after discussions with higher Army officials, and lamented that some elements in the State did not want peace to be restored. Mr. Pathak told a TV channel that the Army would remain in Gujarat to help civil authorities to maintain law and order till normality was restored. He said this view emerged at the meeting the Defence Minister had in Ahmedabad today.

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