India aspires for atomic weapons-free world
Indian VP inaugurates world congress
The Vice President of India Hamid Ansari said, "India aspires for a world that of a non-violent world, free from the scourge of nuclear weapons. We have always held that progress towards nuclear disarmament will require mutual confidence in the international community to conclude universal, non-discriminatory and verifiable prohibitions on nuclear weapons leading to their complete elimination."
He was addressing at the Inauguration of the 18th World Congress of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) today at Mavlankar Hall here in Delhi. The Indian Doctors for Peace and Development hosted the Congress.
He praised the pioneering work of the IPPNW and its efforts for peace, health and development. In recognition of its yeomen service to the mankind, the organisation was awarded the Noble Peace Prize in 1985.
Hamid Ansari said, "Conferences of this nature help in better understanding of the causes of armed conflict, especially from a public health perspective, and build grassroots awareness of the immense health and environment consequences of nuclear war. The involvement of students and youth as part of these conferences brings in the much-needed dimension of spreading awareness among the future decision makers."
He reminded of the first resolution of the UN General Assembly of 24th January, 1946 which was adopted unanimously and sought the elimination of atomic weapons and all other major weapons adaptable to mass destruction from national armaments and the control of atomic energy to ensure its use only for peaceful purposes. He said, "The horrors of the use of nuclear weapons have convinced all responsible nations that elimination of nuclear weapons is necessary."
The Vice President underlined the need for actionable and concrete measures for achieving nuclear disarmament. They were reaffirmation of the unequivocal commitment of all nuclear-weapon states to the goal of complete elimination of nuclear weapons, negotiation of convention on the complete prohibition of the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons and negotiation of a nuclear weapons convention prohibiting the development, production, stockpiling and use of nuclear weapons and on their destruction, leading to the global, non-discriminatory and verifiable elimination of nuclear weapons with a specified time frame.
Dr. Gunnar Westberg, Co-President of IPPNW in his introductory speech, called for efforts to make the world free from arms race and concentrate on improved health care and education to the people. He said, " Today more than 4000 strategic missiles with a combined explosive force corresponding to about 80,000 Hiroshima bombs are on hair trigger alert. If the President of Russia or of the USA presses the button, humans may become an extinguished species."
Six hundred delegates from 58 countries are participating in the three-day conference. India became the first country in the South Asia Region for hosting the biennial Congress of IPPNW.
Mention may be made that Manipur took the major responsibility from the time of the formation of the Indian Doctors for Peace and Development (IDPD) in 1984 to the present period. Dr M. Nara Singh, the Vice President of IDPD stated that he was associated with the IPPNW, which was formed in 1980 before the IDPD was formed in 1984.
In his Report of the Activities of IDPD from Helsinki to Delhi, Dr Arun Mitra, General Secretary of IDPD published in the Souvenir of the 18th World Congress stated that the Manipur Chapter of IDPD held a meeting at Babina Diagnostic Centre, Imphal on September 16 last year and the doctors and medical students from Manipur resolved to campaign for Peace and Disarmament so that wasteful expenditure being incurred on arms race was diverted towards health, education and overall development of the society. In the meeting, Dr. M. Nara Singh, Vice President gave a detailed account of the achievements of doctors movement for peace, health and development under the aegis of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) since 1980 and the Indian Doctors For Peace and Development (IDPD) since 1984 in India.
Dr Arun Mitra delivered a note of emerging challenges before the peace movement in the present day scenario. The report added that leading members of medical fraternity who participated in the meeting included Dr. Th. Biren Singh, Dr. Ksh. Chourjit Singh, Dr. Th. Dhabali, Dr. M. Modhumangol, Dr. Motilal, Dr. Bijoy Singh, Dr Ksh. Manglem,Dr Y. Mohen, Dr. Renubala, Dr. Sadhana, Dr. P Khogen Singh, Dr. H. Tomba Singh, Dr. Yaima Singh, Dr. Borajao, MLA and a leading social activist Amrik Singh Pahwa.
The variety of Indian dances in the cultural evening today at Mavlankar Hall performed by Manipuri performing artistes on the theme of unity and peace had applause from the international audience. Tomorrow, the Manipuri artistes will perform other items of Indian dances in the cultural evening.
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