But the representatives of the India-Pakistan-Bangladesh Peoples' Forum are not at all disheartened.

 The two day conference in Agra that ended Wednesday called for concrete initiatives to speed up the process of sub-continental unity, beginning with relaxation in Visa rules.

 The conference called for measures to normalize relations to obliterate the tragic memories of the partition and to consolidate the spirit of Battle of Plassey and 1857 mutiny called the first war of independence.

 Speakers said even after 60 years of independence people were deprived of the freedom and rights for which their great heroes struggled. Ram Kishore, the convener of the conference told Agratoday.in: "Governments always blame each other for their failures to provide the basic rights and environment where people can interact and meet their friends and relations. BBPPF has got the courage to come up with a vision, ideas and plans that is strengthening masses of three countries to join hands to be a source of peace and prosperity in the region. BBPPF got the lead in the venture and inspired Bangladesh and Pakistan to organize their people. Pakistan chapter is a bit slow but firm in the vision to make secular and peaceful these three countries."

 In the Agra Declaration unanimously adopted by the convention a demand has been made to treat the citizens of the SAARC countries at par with citizens of their respective countries. The conference demanded that the postal departments of the three countries should lower the tariff. "Same rates should be applicable to all the three countries.

 Forum members wanted easing of Visa restrictions to allow for free and hassle free movement, on the lines of the European community.

 Ramji Lal Suman, a former central deputy minister and general secretary of the Samajwadi Party said "Normalization would automatically curb terrorist activities and promote trade ties."

 Ram Kishore, the conference convener asked "if the Berlin wall could go and the two Vietnams could come together, what prevented the peoples of the three countries in the subcontinent which shared a common history and culture, from coming together."

 The activists have decided to push forward the idea of a barrier free zone. To begin with they wanted relaxation in visa and passport rules. All the speakers cited the coming together of European countries, the fall of the Berlin wall and unity of Vietnam. "If they can do after such devastating two world wars, why cant the peoples of the three countries come closer, they asked.

India has been having joint exercises with America and Britain, also Russia. What cant these countries have similar joint exercises?

The Bangladesh-Bharat-Pakistan People's Forum also demanded downsizing of the armed forces and reduction in the defense budgets of the three countries. The activists stressed the need to hold joint military exercises by the three nations on the lines of the recent India-US and India-British exercises.

They also sought mutual cooperation of the three governments in voluntary exchange of militants and terrorist elements operating from their soil while ensuring firm steps to prevent their re-entry.

The conference was inaugurated by Prof Ram Gopal, general secretary of the Samajwadi Party, in the absence of Mulayam Singh Yadav who could not come for health reason. A large number of participants had come from West Bengal, Bihar, Bangladesh. The Pakistani delegates could not reach due to Visa restrictions.

Sat Pal, secretary of South Asian Fraternity, Forum convener Gopa Mukherjea, Reena Afroza (Bangladesh), Nasreen Begum, addressed the conference along with Dev Vrat Viswas.

Ram Kishore, convener of the conference said a decision had been taken to take out a women's yatra from Jhansi to Lucknow early next year. This conference, he said was focused on women's issues.

In his message Mulayam Singh Yadav said the Samajwadi Party would take to streets to demand Visa free movement in the subcontinent.

Bangladesh women's leader Reena Afroza said the people of the three countries had been divided artificially. They shared a common heritage and wanted to see prosperity in the region.