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| Tuesday, 9 March 2004 |
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Vajpayee urges communal peace as India celebrates Hindu festival of colours NEW DELHI, Monday (AFP) Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee Sunday urged communal peace and harmony as millions of people in the Hindu majority country celebrated the boisterous festival of colours, Holi. "The country is standing on a turn where the entire world is looking towards us with great hope. We have to fulfil it," Vajpayee told revellers and those who had come to greet him at his official residence in New Delhi. "A new beginning has to be made where there will be no discrimination.... peace should prevail in the entire country and there should be no unrest. Holi is played with colours and not with blood," he said. The festival which marks the end of the winter season in northern India, also symbolises the triumph of good over evil and is celebrated by people dabbing each other with coloured powder or spraying one another with coloured water. With India's national polls some six weeks away, Vajpayee also used the occasion to send out a political message. "Elections should be fought peacefully and on issues," Vajpayee said referring to the four-phased polls set to begin on April 20 and end on May 10. "Polls give an opportunity to people to bring in a change but the change should be only for such a government that can fulfil their wishes and aspirations," he said. India's main opposition leader, Sonia Gandhi, meanwhile, celebrated Holi with party workers at her residence. Gandhi mingled with a large number of supporters and party leaders, exchanging sweets and garlands, television footage showed. |
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