Vice President praises Centre's inclusive agenda

Vice President Hamid Ansari today commended the 'sab ka sath sab ka vikas' slogan of Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying Muslims remain backward even six decades after Independence and there is a need to ensure that all sections of society are able to walk together.
Ansari said that Muslim community has not responded to the challenges in the past 67 years which led to their social, educational and economic backwardness. But at the same time, he noted, there have been "shortcomings" in ensuring equal economic opportunities and participation in the political process.
"The past 67 years show that we have not responded to the challenge fully. We have cited tradition and social custom as reasons for this. We have failed to walk in step with our fellow countrymen. We have, as a result, exhibited all signs of social, educational and economic backwardness," Ansari said while inaugurating 100th foundation day of Darul Musanfeen Shibli Academy here.

"The objective of "sab ka sath sab ka vikas" is valid and commendable. An essential requirement for this is a common starting point and an ability in all to walk at the required pace.
"This ability has to be developed through individual and social initiative, and governmental initiatives that fructify on the ground. Programmes have been made the need of the hour is their implementation," he added.
The Vice President said that each of these can be surmounted, given the organisation and the will to succeed.

"Any segment of our vast and diverse population has the right as citizens to demand from the state four essentials - social peace, security and protection of identity, empowerment through appropriate education, a fair and equitable share in employment and the largesse of the state.

"Since unequal economic opportunities lead to unequal outcomes which in turn lead to unequal access to political power participation in decision making," he added.
Ansari said,"I am aware, as you are, that there are shortcomings in the realisation of each of the above. The challenge is to overcome these within the framework of the law of the land and the constitutional rights of life and dignity, equality, and affirmative action in favour of the socially and educationally backward to ensure equality of opportunity."
"This is a matter of right, not of charity. The quest for it has to be patient but persistent, and within an approach and framework of inclusiveness rather than of exclusion and alienation," he added.