New Delhi: President Pranab Mukherjee has made an appeal for tolerance, days after a mob lynched a Muslim man in an Uttar Pradesh village, just 30 km away from the national capital, allegedly over rumours of cow slaughter.
"We can't allow core values of our civilisation to be wasted. The core values are that civilisation has celebrated diversity, promoted and advocated tolerance, endurance and plurality," said President Mukherjee, speaking at a book release function at the presidential palace, the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The President, who spoke extempore for about 15 minutes, also said, "Many ancient civilisations have fallen. Despite aggression after aggression our civilisation has survived because of our core civilisation values....If we keep that in mind, nothing can prevent our democracy from moving ahead."
The President Pranab Mukherjee said we must remain true to the core values of our civilization.
He was speaking after receiving the first copy of a Coffee Table book “The Nationalist President - Pranab Mukherjee” at a function held in Rashtrapati Bhavan today (October 7, 2015). The President received the copy of the book from Shri Mohd. Hamid Ansari, the Vice President of India who formally released it.
The President said he felt humbled on the occasion. He has received much more from the country than he has given. The President said he had seen political developments in the country for a considerable period of time. He said the country has made tremendous progress. There have been many advancements but we will have to do much more.
The President said we should not allow the core values of our civilization to wither away. Over the years, our civilization has celebrated diversity, plurality and promoted and advocated tolerance. These values have kept us together over the centuries.
Many ancient civilizations have collapsed but the Indian civilization has survived because of its core civilizational values and adherence to them. The President said that if we keep them in mind, nothing can prevent our nation from forging ahead. Indian democracy is a marvel and we must celebrate, preserve and promote its strengths.
Before releasing the book, the Vice President of India Mohd. Hamid Ansari said that the book was a record of the President’s enlightened vision.
Paying glowing tributes to the President of India Pranab Mukherjee, the Union Minister for Home Affairs Rajnath Singh said that during the last five decades, Mukherjee had dominated the political scene. He has been known as an eminent political leader and a consensus builder.
The book has been edited by Prabhu Chawla and produced by the senior editorial team of the New Indian Express as a tribute to the President and in celebration of his personality as a human being, eminent political leader and as the occupant of the highest office in the country.
There has been nationwide outrage at 52-year-old Mohammad Akhlaq's murder by the mob in Bisada village in UP's Dadri last week. It has also led to controversial statements by politicians amid the arrest of ten men of the village, including the son of a local BJP leader.
