PM Modi: Govt will not allow any group to incite hatred

TNN

New Delhi, 17 Feb 2015: In an all out effort to reach out to the Christians and other minority communities, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured that his government won’t allow any group to incite hatred. "My government will not allow any religious group belonging to the majority or minority to incite hatred against any group," Modi said while speaking at a celebration function of Elevation to Sainthood of Kuriakose Elias Chavara and Mother Euphrasia in New Delhi.

 

"We believe religion is personal choice of every citizen," Modi stressed, adding fanaticism will not be tolerated.

 

The Prime Minister, who has been accused by opposition and Christian groups of turning a blind eye to a string of recent attacks on five churches and a Christian school in Delhi, said his government "gives equal respect to all religions". "My government will ensure that there is complete freedom of faith and that everyone has the undeniable right to retain or adopt the religion of his or her choice without coercion or undue influence.

 

"My government will not allow any religious group, belonging to the majority or the minority, to incite hatred against others, overtly or covertly. Mine will be a government that gives equal respect to all religions," he said at a function here.

 

In a stern warning to fringe elements, he said, "We cannot accept violence against any religion on any pretext and I strongly condemn such violence. My government will act strongly in this regard."

 

"World is increasingly witnessing division and hostility on religious lines, this has become a matter of global concern. In this context the ancient Indian play of mutual respect for all faiths is now beginning to manifest in global discourses," said the Prime Minister.

 

Observing that the world is at crossroads, he said if not crossed properly it "can throw us back to the dark days of bigotry, fanaticism and bloodshed".

 

He further said that this harmonious convergence among religions could not be achieved even when the world entered the third millennium.

 

Invoking Buddha and Mahatma Gandhi, Modi said that equal respect for all religions must be in the DNA of every Indian. Seeking harmony, the Prime Minister appealed to all religious groups to act with restraint, mutual respect and tolerance in the true spirit of the ancient nation which is manifest in the Constitution and in line with the Hague Declaration.

 

Modi’s remarks have come after US President Barack Obama said the "acts of intolerance" experienced by religious faiths of all types in India in the past few years would have shocked Mahatma Gandhi.

 

Here are some highlights of what he said:

1. The lives of Saint Chavara and Euphrasia are an inspiration not only to Christian community but to humanity as a whole

2.Saint Kuriakose Elias Chavara & Saint Euphrasia, the whole country is proud of their recognition

3. Saint Kuriakose Elias Chavara’s contribution towards women empowerment was also noteworthy. Saint Euphrasia dedicated her life to prayer and devotion to God

4. Mother India gave birth to many religious and spiritual streams

5. The tradition of welcoming, respecting and honouring all faiths is as old as India itself

6. Our Constitution did not evolve in a vacuum, it has roots in ancient cultural traditions of India

7. Principle of equal respect has been part of India’s ethos for thousands of years and that’s how it became integral to Constitution of India

8. World is increasingly witnessing division and hostility on religious lines, this has become a matter of global concern

9. In this context the ancient Indian play of mutual respect for all faiths is now beginning to manifest in global discourses

10. My govt will ensure that there is complete freedom of faith and everyone has undeniable right to retain religion of his/her choice

11. Our government will not allow any religious group belonging to majority or minority to incite violence overtly or covertly

12. India is a land of Buddha and Gandhi, equal respect for all religion should be in the DNA of every citizen

13. Appeal to all religious groups to act with mutual respect and tolerance

14. I strongly condemn such violence, my govt will act strongly in this regard

15. With this commitment I appeal all religious groups to act with mutual respect and tolerance in true spirit of this ancient nation