JEDDAH, 9 May 2003 — Indian journalist and parliamentarian Kuldip Nayar said here yesterday his dream proposal of a South Asian union on the pattern of other regional unions had received support from some of the Asian leaders he had met.
“It will be to the advantage of the Asian region that such a union is formed, which is my dream proposal,” said Nayar. He clarified that he did not meet with Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal on Tuesday as was reported in yesterday’s Arab News.
Nayar, who was speaking as an invitee on National Education Day organized by the Jeddah-based Urdu Academy to mark the birth anniversary of India’s first Education Minister Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, said Azad worked tirelessly for education, which is a never-ending process, and his message was still relevant to all sections of society.
He urged non-resident Indians, irrespective of religion and the region to which they belong, to work toward strengthening the secular and democratic credentials of their country.
Indian Consul General Syed Akbaruddin, who chaired the meeting, released a commemorative souvenir.
