By IANS
New Delhi : Terming the communal violence in Gujarat in 2002 as anti-human, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi Wednesday urged the nation to fight “anti-social forces” to protect secular and democratic values.
Presiding over the 22nd Indira Gandhi National Integration Award function here, she congratulated award winners J.S. Bandukwala and Ram Puniyani for their work to maintain communal harmony in the aftermath of the Babri Masjid demolition in 1992 and sectarian strife in Gujarat in 2002.
“It is the responsibility of every Congress worker and all of us to counter such anti-human demonism. If we do not counter such kind of anti-social forces with unity and strength, our secular democratic nation will be put at risk,” she said.
“This was Gandhiji’s way. Indiraji also did this,” she said.
Her remarks are significant as they come days before she launches the party’s campaign in Gujarat, which goes to polls in December.
Gandhi said equal respect for all religions and patriotism formed the unique identity of India. “It was in order to protect this that Indiraji sacrificed her life,” she said.
The awards were given away on the 23rd death anniversary of prime minister Indira Gandhi.