By NNN-PTI,
Nagaon, India : With Jammu and Kashmir situation apparently in his mind, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said any effort to create disharmony in society should not be permitted and those threatening the country’s social and communal harmony should be isolated.
Contending that the “great social and cultural harmony” represented by India was being questioned, he underlined that “enduring solutions” can be found only through discussion and the democratic process within the framework of the Constitution.
“Some people do not appreciate that the very ethos of being Indian is to accept different streams of thought, faith, caste and language,” Singh said in a speech on Monday which was read out at a public meeting here in the state of Assam in his absence as his helicopter could not land due to bad weather.
“We should collectively ensure that any effort to create disharmony in society is not permitted… Let us collectively protect our social and communal harmony and isolate those who threaten it,” Singh said.
The Prime Minister was apparently referring to the Amarnath land row which has created a divide between Jammu and Kashmir regions with agitations being witnessed for over a month.
He said the country had witnessed similar challenges in Assam and the government has been finding solutions through dialogue.
In this context, Singh referred to the Assam Accord initiated by late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi as “an example of what can be achieved through the process of dialogue”.
He said his government has been reviewing the implementation of the Accord and is committed to ensuring its implementation in letter and spirit.