New Delhi: Against the backdrop of attacks on Dalits and minorities, President Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday said these incidents should be dealt with “firmly”, calling the violence against “weaker sections” that militate against the national ethos as “aberrations”.
Coming down heavily on forces of intolerance, President Mukherjee cautioned against “unmindful pursuit” of a divisive political agenda and polarising debates by groups and individuals, saying they led to institutional “travesty” and constitutional “subversion”.
The President also made it clear that democracy was not just about exercising choice to elect governments periodically.
The President was addressing the nation on the eve of India’s 70th Independence Day — his fifth since assuming office.
President: Follow ‘maryada’ in discharge of responsibility
Against the backdrop of attacks on Dalits and minorities, President Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday said these incidents should be dealt with “firmly”, calling the violence against “weaker sections” that militate against the national ethos as “aberrations”.
He asked authorities and institutions of state power to adhere to the “Maryada” (dignity) in discharge of their duties as established in this ancient Indian ethos.
“In these four years, I also saw with, some disquiet, forces of divisiveness and intolerance trying to raise their ugly head. Attacks on weaker sections that militate against our national ethos are aberrations that need to be dealt with firmly,” he said. He said the collective wisdom of our society and our polity gave him the confidence that such forces will remain marginalised and India’s remarkable growth story will continue uninterrupted. He said the Constitution has clearly defined the duties and responsibilities of every organ of the state.
