NEW DELHI, Sept 21:
Asserting that inter-religious and communal violence is “insanity” manifested, President Pranab Mukherjee today said a few individuals alone cannot be blamed as “our inaction” has created an atmosphere where violence begets violence.
Calling for urgently bringing back sanity into “our midst,” the President said time has come to say enough is enough.
“Humanity cannot tolerate this any more. We must save humanity and civilisation. This cannot be done by Parliament or law enforcement machinery alone. It has to be achieved through a collective effort of society at large,” he said addressing an all-faith campaign.
Mukherjee said was high time the country re-set its moral compass. “With every act of violence, we are crucifying Jesus Christ again and again. With each act of violence, we are repeating the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.
“A few individuals alone cannot be blamed for the violence in our society. Our general apathy and tolerance of violence is an equal culprit. Our inaction has created an atmosphere where violence begets violence,” he said at a function of ‘All India Ahimsa Parmo Dharma Awareness Campaign’ at the Rashtrapati Bhawan here.
Making a fervent appeal for collective efforts to spread the message of peace, harmony and non-violence, the President said “a country which cannot protect and honour its mothers, sisters and daughters cannot consider itself civilised.”
Calling for creation of a violence-free society, he said “non-violence and peace is a primary teaching of our civilisation. No religion preaches violence. Every religion speaks of love, compassion and service.
“India is a five thousand year old civilisation where Lord Buddha and Bhagwan Mahavira preached non-violence. India has always accommodated all faiths, beliefs, religious practices and customs”.
Asking people to revisit the history, he said people remember only those who have advocated non-violence and not those who were conquerors and rulers.
“Jesus Christ and Lord Buddha changed the course of civilisation. Their teachings have been followed by millions of people for centuries. Timurlane, Ghenghiz Khan and Nazis have been only footnotes of history,” he pointed out.
“Let us not forget the teachings of history. Nothing can be achieved by violence. Everything can be gained through love and compassion. No religion condones violence. It is a complete perversion to spread violence in the name of religion,” he said. (PTI)
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