NEW DELHI, Aug 16: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday declared that he would like to run the country on the basis of consensus and not on majority in Parliament and called for a 10-year moratorium on caste and communal violence in the country.
Calling communal and caste tensions as well as social equality as evils and sins which led to the partition of the country and have not benefited anyone “Whom does it benefit?” said PM as he appealed people to eschew communal and caste violence. “Let us resolve for once in our hearts, let us put a moratorium on all such activities for ten years, we shall march ahead to a society which will be free from all such tensions and you will see how much strength we get from peace, unity, goodwill and brotherhood. Let us experiment with it for once”, said Modi.
He further said: “Believe in my words, I do assure you. Shun all the sins committed so far, give up that way, follow the way of goodwill and brotherhood, and let us resolve to take the country forward. I believe we can do that”.
Although Modi campaigned on the inclusive theme of “sabka saath, sabka vikaas”, and pledged that he considered Constitution to be the only scripture and people’s welfare as his faith, the speech seemed to go farther than anything he said on the stump.
He extended the theme of reconciliation also to misguided youth who have taken to terrorism and naxalism to shun violence and adopt the path of peace and development.
Striking a non-partisan note, he sought the cooperation of all political parties and vowed to take their help. He referred to the parliament session that concluded on Thursday, saying “it was a reflection of our thinking and intention to move forward not on the basis of majority but on the basis of strong foundation of consensus.”
“You must have seen that by taking all parties, including opposition, along we achieved unprecedented success. The credit for it does not go just to the prime minister or the Government but also to opposition, its leaders and each of its MPs. I salute all MPs and leaders of parties with whose help we ended this first session with success.”
In an apparent reference to recent incidents in some parts of the country, the Prime Minister said, communalism and casteism are an obstacle in the country’s progress.
“Referring to terrorism and naxalism, Modi wondered how long the violence would continue. “You will get nothing,” he told the misguided youth.
He cited the example of Nepal where Maoists have quit the path of violence after a decade-long armed struggle and joined the political mainstream and nation-building. “They (Maoists) have given up arms and are now waiting for a new Constitution. It is an example of inspiration for the misguided youth… It is high time that misguided youth renounce violence and take the path of peace,” said Modi who recently visited Nepal.
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