Parkash Singh Badal recalls childhood days, food of Lahore

Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal today went down memory lane recalling his childhood and student days in Lahore, particulary its food, as he welcomed the Commonwealth Games Queens Baton which crossed into India near here.

"I still remember the streets of Lahore where I did my schooling and spent the days of childhood. I also still remember the shop of famous Anarkali Bazaar where I used to visit in a routine manner to take Lassi", he said.

He recalled some personal anecdotes when he was doing graduation in arts at Foreman Christian College in Lahore.

"I remember the food of Lahore which has similarity with that of Indian Punjab. The culture was also similar including the customs in bordering towns of both the neighbouring nations. I do remember the people who were having same castes in Muslim community as in Sikh community".

In an emotional tone, Badal asked the people of both the Punjabs (India and Pakistan) to promote goodwill, amity, harmony and peace amongst them as they shared a common cultural and social heritage.

He said the era of hostility and mistrust between India and Pakistan must come to an end and be replaced by love, warmth and tolerance, paving the way for permanently removal of geographical barriers in the form of man-made gates across both the sides of the International Border.