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Indian Polity : Enough space for regional identities, PM |
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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that there is adequate space in Indian polity and society for regional and sub-regional identities and cultures. Inaugurating the first meeting of the National Integration Council in 13 years, Dr. Manmohan Singh said, “There is resurgence of regional and sub-regional identities in a manner which was not conceivable 60 years ago. As a pluralistic society and polity, we have adequate space for regional and sub-regional identities and cultures. These are not necessarily inimical to our larger concept of nationhood. Our Constitution gives a place of honour to all regional languages.”
Referring to Jawaharlal Nehru’s remarks at the 1961 National Integration Conference, Dr. Singh said the former Prime Minister identified communalism, casteism, regionalism and lingual chauvinism as potential sources of discord. These threats remained even now though their gravity had altered or possibly declined.
Technological advances in communication, information technology and the media made it possible for small communities and local cultures to preserve and promote their unique identities.
“We must rejoice at the blossoming of these regional identities and lay emphasis on harmony rather than uniformity.”
Identifying regional economic imbalances as one of the causes of divisiveness, the Prime Minister said that it might have remained or increased even though all regions were generally better off than they were 40 years ago. Some regions developed faster than others.
Turning to overt challenges in the form of communalism, extremism, separatism, insurgency and violence, Dr. Singh said any grievance could be addressed democratically and through dialogue.
Every political group which claimed to represent the interests of any section, must demonstrate its popularity and strength through the institutions of democracy.
The day long meeting was attended among others by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, former Prime Ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee, V.P. Singh and I.K. Gujral, BJP President L.K. Advani, Union Ministers, Chief Ministers and a host of key political leaders, industrialists, media persons and other public figures.
The Prime Minister said he was delighted to have Vajpayee at the meeting as he had attended the first meeting of the Council in June 1962.
Speaking at the meeting, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil said that the Centre is finalising a model Bill to check communal violence.
The Council was unanimous on providing compensation to victims of violence, Patil said, adding that it was heartening to note all members thought of it.
In his valedictory remarks, the Prime Minister mentioned that it was in the country’s interest that wherever there were riots, there must be effective arrangements to ensure that the victims were given maximum possible rehabilitation.
He said the meeting of NIC was held in “perfect harmony” and that the participants were candid in their approach to understand how communal harmony could be established, and not to find fault.
PM asks people to think big
The Prime Minister utilised another function last week to emphasise the need for the country to grab new market opportunities. Opening the golden jubilee celebrations of the Life Insurance Corporation of India in Lucknow on September 1, Dr. Manmohan Singh said the people should give up the habit of being excessively apprehensive. His reference was to the opposition voiced by the Left parties and the BJP to FDI in retail.
Dr. Singh said the fear of reforms was overstated and merely reflected a lack of self-confidence. He exhorted Indians to start thinking “big.” He said India was on the cusp of a historic change and it was possible to enter a sustained phase of 7.8 per cent growth, breaking away from the trends of the recent past. He said our economy had already demonstrated its ability to move up with manufacturing sector showing tremendous dynamism and the services sector being a key driver of growth.
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