Jaya voices concern over growth of communal forces

AIADMK supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today voiced concern over "the growth of communal forces in our body politic" and said secularism alone could be the cornerstone of a forward-looking society with religious pluralism.
"Communalism has been spreading its dangerous tentacles and has acquired alarming proportions in recent decades, with the sharp increase in communal tensions and religion-based politics and growth of communal forces in our body politic," Jayalalithaa said in a speech at a convention of 15 non-BJP and non-Congress parties here. Her speech copy was read out by her party's Lok Sabha member M Thambidurai.
She said "the Indian State is often seen to be acceding to the pressure of both minority demands at one time and to majority demands at another, which has fuelled the activities of various groups and encouraged them to engage in one upmanship" in their search for demonstration of loyalty to the issues being embraced by the majority and the minority groups, which has contributed towards heightening of fear and is a threat to human lives and livelihood".

"With the country beset with political turmoil, violence and polarization, solutions can be found if will and vision permeate and overpower vested interests," she added.
The AIADMK leader also said "it is our primary duty to uphold the tenets of our Constitution and seek to unite the people of India rather than work as divisive forces, for secularism alone could be the cornerstone of an egalitarian, forward looking Society with religious pluralism, civil liberties and equal opportunities.