President Mukherjee calls for tolerance again

PM Modi says unity, peace preconditions for growth

President Pranab Mukherjee today yet again called for preserving India’s pluralism while Prime Minister Narendra Modi said unity, peace and harmony were preconditions if India needed to move forward.

Speaking at an event to mark the golden jubilee celebrations of the Delhi High Court, Mukherjee said, “Our country has thrived due to its power of assimilation and tolerance. Our pluralistic character has stood the test of time. Our ancient civilisation has over the centuries accommodated our diversities.”

“Multiplicity is our collective strength, which must be preserved at all costs. It finds reflection in various provisions of our Constitution,” the president said.

The event was attended by Chief Justice of India HL Dattu, Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court G Rohini, Lt Governor of Delhi Najeeb Jung and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal among others.

“The appointment process must conform to the highest standards of probity. Whichever system of appointment we follow, it must operate on well-established and transparent principles to select the best,” Mukherjee said.

“No one can meddle in the process. An autonomous judiciary is a vital feature of democracy. Yet being an important pillar of democracy, it must reinvent itself through introspection and self-correction, as and when necessary,” he added.

At an event to mark the 140th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Modi on Saturday said unity was India’s biggest strength.

“We have to move forward with the mantra of unity, peace and harmony,” the prime minister added.

Modi said Patel never promoted any of his family members during his political life and that dynastic politics had become the bane of Indian politics. “Irrespective of our language and attachment of our feelings and ideology to any inspiration or system, if our goal is to take India to new heights, then the first condition is unity, peace and harmony,” Modi said.

“If 125 crore Indians walk together shoulder to shoulder, then the country will move 125 crore steps in one go. Our strength is a nation bound together by unity and which can sacrifice everything for unity,” he added as he flagged off a run for unity in honour of Patel. Modi also referred to the day being the martyrdom day of Indira Gandhi.

Congress Spokesperson Anand Sharma berated the government for not paying homage to Indira Gandhi. Scoffing at the “BJP's attempts to appropriate the legacy of Patel” Sharma demanded the government release a copy of Patel’s communique “banning” the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh after the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.

Terming the run as hypocrisy, Sharma said it was hypocritical when seen against protests by artistes, writers and scientists over rising intolerance.