Two days after violence in Haryana following the conviction of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated on Sunday that violence would not be tolerated and those indulging in it would be punished.
“When on the one hand, a sense of festivity pervades the land, and on the other, news of violence comes in, from one part of the country, it is only natural to feel concerned. Ours is the country of Buddha and Gandhi, it is the land of Sardar Patel who gave up his all for the unity of the nation. We have been hearing and saying Ahimsa Parmo Dharmah from our childhood,” Mr. Modi said in his radio address Mann Ki Baat, without naming the Dera.
“In my address from the ramparts of the Red Fort, I had said that violence in the name of faith will not be tolerated, whether it is communal belief systems, whether it is subscribing to political ideologies, whether it is allegiance to a person or customs and traditions. No one has the right to take the law into one’s own hands in the name of one’s beliefs.”
“In the Constitution given to us by Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar there is every provision for ensuring justice for each and every person. I want to assure my countrymen that people who take the law into their own hands and are on the path of violent suppression – whether it is a person or a group – neither this country nor any government will tolerate it. Each and every person will have to abide by the law; the law will fix accountability and the guilty will unquestionably be punished.”
Mr. Modi in his 30-minute broadcast also asked people to link festivals and the coming Gandhi Jayanti celebrations with cleanliness, wishing them on a variety of festivals that stood for India’s diversity.
Pat for Muslim body
He praised the Muslim organisation Jamiat-Ulema-e-Hind, saying its volunteers had recently cleaned 22 temples and two mosques affected by floods in Gujarat, setting an “inspiring” example of unity.
Sports talent portal
Referring to the celebration of National Sports Day on August 29 – the birth anniversary of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand – Mr. Modi said the government is launching a Sports Talent Search Portal on Monday to spot sporting talent and groom it.
“Any talented child who has an achievement in sports, can upload his biodata or video on this portal. The Ministry of Sports will impart training to selected emerging players,” the Prime Minister said.
