New Delhi: The book reveals that former Prime Minister Deve Gowda sought to permanently resolve the India-Pakistan issue. Journalist Sugatha Srinivasa Raju has made new revelations in her book ‘Faros in the Field: The Unexplored Life of HD Deve Gowda’.
During Deve Gowda’s tenure as Prime Minister, the move was to hold talks with the then Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif, to end the India – Pakistan conflict forever. Prior to this, the two had had phone conversations.
Deve Gowda has appointed EHT surgeon LH Hiranandani, who was born in Pakistan’s Sindh province and migrated to Mumbai, as mediator. Hiranandani was a man who treated many dignitaries including Deve Gowda, Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Sheikh Abdullah.
Prior to the talks, 30,000 tonnes of sugar was exported to Pakistan. The time and place for the meeting had been decided. But in less than a year, Deve Gowda was ousted in April 1997 after the Congress withdrew its support. With this, the discussion came to a halt.
English Summary: When Deve Gowda and Nawaz Sharif spoke but couldn’t meet