Andalib Akhter/ New Delhi
Vice-President Mohd. Hamid Ansari has said that people should be vigilant against forces that seek to exploit diversity in religion, language and culture to divide the country.
He said that it was the solemn duty of the Government to make every possible effort to protect and promote secular values and provide equality of opportunity to all religion.
Vice-President was speaking, after giving away the Chisti India Harmony Awards 2015 instituted by India Harmony Foundation here today.
Mr Ansari said constitutional values of secularism and liberty of thought, expression, faith and worship are, premised on the existential reality of the society.
“Our constitutional values of secularism and liberty of thought, expression, faith and worship are, premised on the existential reality of our society and India has, for centuries, provided a unique social and intellectual environment in which many distinct religions have not only co-existed peacefully but have also enriched each other” VP said adding that religious harmony and acceptance, and not mere tolerance, are the bedrock of India’s secularism and composite culture.
He said, India has, for centuries, provided a unique social and intellectual environment in which many distinct religions have not only co-existed peacefully but have also enriched each other. He said the government should protect and promote secular values and provide equality of opportunity to all religions.
The Vice President congratulated the awardees – Kuldeep Nayar, Eminent Journalist; Narendra Luther, Historian and former Bureaucrat; Pandit Anand Mohan Zutshi, Eminent Poet and Ms. Rana Safvi, Litterateur. He also commended the India Harmony Foundation for giving away these awards and for continuing their work in celebrating the Indian multi-culturalism.