Modi's wife Jashodaben appeals for Indo-Pak peace, insists, no soldier should die on borders

Sandeep Pandey with Jashodaben

By Kaleem Sidiqui
In an attempt to bridge the gap between India and Pakistan, the Indo -Pak Friendship and Peace Yatra", led by Magsaysay awardee Sandeep Pandey began on June 19 from Ahmedabad's Sabarmati Ashram, and is expected to reach Nada Bet, Indo-Pak border in Gujarat via Kalol, Nandasan , Mehsana ,Patan etc., by the end of this month.
As the yatra was about to teach Balisana village, after leaving Mehsana last week, a special guest came to welcome the participants: Jasodaben, wife of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She joined the march for some time after welcoming the padyatris, and prayed for world peace.
Jasodaben said: "I congratulate these travelers who want world peace. I also pray for world peace to the God ". Condemning the killing of soldiers on the borders, she added, “Killings of the soldier either Indians or Pakistani is wrong and inhuman, no soldiers should die at borders. I pray to the God for peace in India and world”. Jasodaben’s brother Ashok Modi also came to receive of the foot marchers.
Alok Pandey, one of the travelers, raised slogans such as ‘Bharat Pakistan Shanti yatra Zindabad’(Long Live Indo-Pak Peace March , ‘Yudh Nahi Shanti Chahiye’ (We Need Peace not War) , ‘Poori Duniya Me Shanti Qayam Karo’ (Let Peace Prevails all over the World), ‘Parmanu Shastr Nasht Karo’ (Destroy Nuclear Weapons), ‘Dakshin Asia ko Parmanu Mukt Jahir Karo’( Declare South Asia as Nuclear Free).
The slogans were also chanted by Jasodaben and Ashok Modi.
When the yatra started on June 19 from Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati Ashram, the Gujarat police detained all the participants, including Sandip Pandey, following the peace march ceremony. The police argued, the yatra cannot be held in out of Ahmedabad city because it might disturb law and order problems. All the yatris were kept in Ranip police station, and released by police after three hours. Later, they started their yatra from Adalaj, Gandhinagar.
At Nada Bet, off Indo-Pak border, many social activists and political leaders from Gujarat and other part of India are likely to participate in the closing ceremony. These include Congress MLA Naushad Solanki and independent MLA Jignesh Mevani.
On the other side of the border, in Pakistan, social activist Karamat Ali plans to organize a gathering in support of Indo-Pak friendship and peace march.

Jashodaben joining padyatris

According to Sandeep Pandey, "During the march, which began on June 19, we did not meet more than three to four people who said that India and Pakistan friendship is impossible. Most people welcomed us."
He added, “Jayant Bhai Barot of Linch village, who initially said that friendship between India and Pakistan is not possible, now says that if this happen it will be good for both the nations. It is a tough job but nothing can be better than this. He not only welcomed the marchers but also sat with travelers and took sugarcane juice with us.”
Pandey continued, "After four-years’ rule of the Modi government, people have come to the conclusion that war is neither the solution nor the answer. Both the governments have no option but to have good relations. During this march, our big achievement is, the issue we are raising is getting the support of common people, including Jasodaben, the PM's wife.”
Pandey added, “When we reached Bilasena village near Unjha town, we got warm welcome from villagers, and found more than 100 families of the village have relatives in Pakistan, yet it is impossible for them to get a visa to visit Pakistan".
Kausar Ali Sayyed, a co-traveler, said, "India's relations with Pakistan is so bitter that people are afraid to take the name of Pakistan because, on the both sides, there is fearful atmosphere created for political mileage.”
He added, “My relatives are in Pakistan. Long time ago, my father went to Pakistan to meet relatives. When he returned, he had some Pakistani currency, so he was arrested and agencies labeled him a spy. Later he was released. Common people don’t want this kind of complication.”
During the foot march, signature campaign is held by travelers, demanding to bridge the gap between the two nations. People are signing with the hope that one day soldiers of both the countries will not be killed and no one will fire at the borders, and that Into-Pak relations will turn better.
Jasodaben and Ashok Modi also supported the demands by the signing demands on paper, which will be sent to the Prime Ministers of the two countries.

Comments

The soundtrack of resistance: How 'Sada Sada Ya Nabi' is fueling the Iran war

By Syed Ali Mujtaba* The Persian track “ Sada Sada Ya Nabi ye ” by Hossein Sotoodeh has taken the world by storm. This viral media has cut across linguistic barriers to achieve cult status, reaching over 10 million views. The electrifying music and passionate rendition by the Iranian singer have resonated across the globe, particularly as the high-intensity military conflict involving Iran entered its second month in March 2026.

Kolkata dialogue flags policy and finance deficit in wetland sustainability

By A Representative Wetlands were the focus of India–Germany climate talks in Kolkata, where experts from government, business, and civil society stressed both their ecological importance and the urgent need for stronger conservation frameworks.

'Fraudulent': Ex-civil servants urge President to halt Odisha tribal land dispossession

By A Representative A collective of 81 retired civil servants from the Constitutional Conduct Group has written to the President of India expressing alarm over what they describe as the wrongful dispossession of tribal lands in Odisha’s Rayagada district. The letter, dated April 19, 2026, highlights violent clashes in Kantamal village where police personnel reportedly injured over 70 tribal residents attempting to protect their community rights.

Dhandhuka violence: Gujarat minority group seeks judicial action, cites targeted arson

By A Representative The Minority Coordination Committee (MCC) Gujarat has written to the Director General of Police seeking judicial action in connection with recent violence in Dhandhuka town of Ahmedabad district, alleging targeted attacks on properties belonging to members of the Muslim community following a fatal altercation between two bike riders on April 18.

Maoist activity in India: Weakening structures, 'shifts' in leadership, strategy and ideology

By Harsh Thakor* Recent statements by government representatives have suggested that Maoism in India has been effectively eliminated, citing the weakening of central leadership and intensified security operations. These claims follow sustained counterinsurgency efforts across key regions, including central and eastern India. However, available information from security agencies and independent observers indicates that while the organizational structure of the CPI (Maoist) has been significantly disrupted, elements of the movement remain active. Reports acknowledge the continued presence of cadres in certain forested regions such as Bastar and parts of Dandakaranya, alongside smaller, decentralized units adapting their operational strategies.

Why link women’s reservation to delimitation? The unspoken political calculus

By Vikas Meshram* April 16, 2026, is likely to be recorded as a special day in the history of Indian democracy. In a three-day special session of Parliament, the central government is set to introduce a comprehensive package of three historic bills: the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026; the Delimitation Bill, 2026; and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The stated purpose of all three is the same: to implement the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (106th Constitutional Amendment) passed in 2023. However, the political intent concealed behind these measures — and their impact on the federal balance — is far more profound. It is absolutely essential to understand this.

From Manesar to Noida: Workers take to streets for bread, media looks away

By Sunil Kumar* Across several states in India, a workers’ movement is gathering momentum. This is not a movement born of luxury or ambition, nor a demand for power-sharing within the state. At its core lies a stark and basic plea: the right to survive with dignity—adequate food, and wages sufficient to afford it.

Catholic union opposes FCRA amendments, warns of threat to Church institutions

By A Representative The All India Catholic Union (AICU) has raised serious concerns over what it describes as growing threats to religious freedom, minority rights, and constitutional safeguards in India, warning that recent policy and legislative trends could undermine the country’s secular and federal framework.

Midnight weeping: The sociology of tragic vision in Badri Narayan’s poetry

By Ravi Ranjan* Badri Narayan, a distinguished Hindi poet and social scientist, occupies a unique position in contemporary Indian intellectual life by bridging the worlds of creative literature and critical social inquiry. His poetic journey began significantly with the 1993 collection 'Saca Sune Hue Kaï Dina Hue' (Truth Heard Many Days Ago). As a social historian and cultural anthropologist, Narayan pioneered a methodological shift away from elite archives toward the oral traditions and folk myths of marginalized communities. He eventually legitimized "folk-ethnography" as a rigorous academic discipline during his tenure as Director of the G.B. Pant Social Science Institute.

Counterview

Search This Blog