Nation– Disturbing trends in country can hurt national interests: Manmohan

New Delhi: UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress leaders Dr Karan Singh, Motilal Vora and former West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi during the “Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award” in New Delhi, on Aug 20, 2018. (Photo: IANS)

August 20, 2018

New Delhi: Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday took a veiled dig at the Modi government, saying that some “disturbing trends” witnessed in India over the past few years and perpetrated by certain groups can only hurt national interests.

Speaking at a function where the ‘Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavna Award’ was conferred on former West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi, the senior Congress leader emphasised the need to arrest the trends that are “anathema to the promotion of peace, national integration and communal harmony”.

Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s 74th birth anniversary was observed on August 20.

United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi also indirectly attacked the Modi government, saying that the ideologies that reject the “composite essence of our nationhood” must be opposed and there was a need to fight the forces of divisiveness, hate and bigotry.

Manmohan Singh said: “… some disturbing trend that our country has been witnessing over the past few years call for solemn reflection. These unsavoury trends of growing intolerance, communal polarisation, growing violent crime propelled by a hatred of certain groups and of mobs taking the law in their own hands can only harm national interests.

“They are anathema to the promotion of peace, national integration and communal harmony, which are the cherished objectives enshrined in our magnificent Constitution. All of us perhaps need to pause and reflect on how we can go together and contribute to arresting these trends.”

The former Prime Minister praised Gopalkrishna Gandhi for speaking on these issues with “great courage and conviction” and for “holding up a mirror to our people at large”.

Sonia Gandhi condemned the divisive forces and vowed to take them on collectively. She also hailed the former West Bengal Governor, a grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, for being an “uncompromising champion of constitutional values”.

“He is one of the most eloquent and uncompromising champions of the values enshrined in our Constitution, values that are under determined and systematic assault.

“There is much pain and anguish in what he has been writing in recent years and every right-thinking and right-acting Indian shares not only his analysis of what is going wrong but also his profoundly sensitive articulation of what needs to be done.

“We collectively express our resolve to oppose the ideologies that reject the composite essence of our nationhood and to fight the forces of divisiveness, hate and bigotry,” the Congress leader said.
(IANS)

NCW seeks report on gang rape of 3 women in front of family in Haryana

Chandigarh: The National Commission for Women (NCW) on Monday sought a report within three days regarding the gang rape of three women last week in Haryana's Panipat district by four...

Chandrababu Naidu sent to two-day CID custody

Vijayawada: Vijayawada ACB Court on Friday granted custody of former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to the CID for two days for questioning him in skill development case. The court...

Hate speech: K’taka Police file case against Sri Rama Sena founder

Hubballi (Karnataka): The Karnataka Police have booked a case against Sri Rama Sena founder Pramod Muthalik for hate speech against people of other religions, police said on Friday. The case...

Honour killing: Man lynched by girl’s family

Mathura (UP): A young man from Agra was lynched to death by his girlfriend's family, in this holy city of Uttar Pradesh, police said on Thursday. Govind Kumar, whose body...

Kashmir journalist Majid Hyderi booked under PSA

Srinagar: Local journalist Majid Hyderi has been booked under the harsh Public Safety Act (PSA) for intimidation, criminal conspiracy and extortion, official sources said on Tuesday. Majid Hyderi was arrested...

I-T raids at premises linked to NCR builders uncovers tax evasion worth crores

New Delhi: The Income Tax department, which recently conducted search operations at multiple places belonging to builders in the National Capital Region (NCR), have seized around Rs four crore cash,...

The curious case of ‘fake’ influencer Ravisutanjani Kumar shocks X users

New Delhi: As millions of Indians continue to follow creators and influencers on social media like X (formerly Twitter), the curious case of FinTech influencer Ravisutanjani Kumar -- the man...

BJP ticket scam: Arrested Hindu activist claims involvement of big personalities

Bengaluru: Arrested Hindu activist Chaitra Kundapura on Thursday claimed that big personalities were involved in the BJP ticket scam in Karnataka. She made the remarks to mediapersons while being taken...

TV personality Kirti Verma charged in Rs 263 cr illegal TDS refund case

New Delhi: Kirti Verma, an Income Tax official-turned TV personality known for her appearances on 'Roadies' and 'Big Boss Season 12', as been chargesheeted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for...

Another NEET aspirant dies by suicide in Rajasthan’s Kota

Jaipur: A 16-year-old girl, preparing for the NEET exam, hanged herself in Rajasthan's Kota, taking the number of suicides by students to 24 this year. According to ASI Amar Kumar...

Man gropes female passenger on Mumbai-Guwahati IndiGo flight

New Delhi: An FIR has been registered against a man accused of groping a female passenger on board a Mumbai-Guwahati IndiGo flight, an airline spokesperson said. According to the spokesperson,...

Ex-Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu arrested in corruption case

Amaravati: In a major development, former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N. Chandrababu Naidu was arrested on Saturday in Nandyal district by the state police's...

Read Previous

Australian mission warns of visa scam in Delhi

Read Next

Reliance Jio tops Fortune ‘Change The World’ list

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

WP2Social Auto Publish Powered By : XYZScripts.com