By M Reyaz, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: On Monday President Pranab Mukherjee once again took to micro-blogging site Twitter to remind the country of how “our collective strength” must “be harnessed to resist evil powers in society.” He also hoped, “Mahamaya – the combination of all positive forces would eliminate the Asuras or divisive forces.”
Indian civilization has survived for 5000 years because of its tolerance, he wrote in another tweet, adding that it has always accepted dissent and differences.
Tweets sent from the official twitter handle of the Office of the President quoted from his speech delivered at a gathering in Birbhum, West Bengal today, asking, “Is tolerance and acceptance of dissent on the wane?”
The honourable President also said, “Humanism and pluralism should not be abandoned under any circumstance,” adding, “assimilation through receiving is a characteristic of Indian society.”
“As there are a number of beliefs, there are a number of ways" #PresidentMukherjee
— President of India (@RashtrapatiBhvn) October 19, 2015
Humanism and pluralism should not be abandoned under any circumstance #PresidentMukherjee
— President of India (@RashtrapatiBhvn) October 19, 2015
Our collective strength must to be harnessed to resist evil powers in society #PresidentMukherjee
— President of India (@RashtrapatiBhvn) October 19, 2015
Indian civilization has survived for 5000 years because of its tolerance #PresidentMukherjee
— President of India (@RashtrapatiBhvn) October 19, 2015
Indian civilization has always accepted dissent and differences #PresidentMukherjee
— President of India (@RashtrapatiBhvn) October 19, 2015
We have a Constitution that accommodates all these differences #PresidentMukherjee
— President of India (@RashtrapatiBhvn) October 19, 2015
Hope Mahamaya – the combination of all positive forces would eliminate the Asuras or divisive forces #PresidentMukherjee
— President of India (@RashtrapatiBhvn) October 19, 2015
File Photo of President Pranab Mukherjee administering the oath of office of the Prime Minister to Narendra Modi, at a Swearing-in Ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on May 26, 2014 (Courtesy: PIB).
It should be noted that on October 7, during a book launch function at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, President Mukherjee spoke extempore on the importance of preserving the ‘diversity’ and ‘plurality’ in the country and the need for the spirit of `tolerance’. “Indian democracy is a marvel and we must celebrate, preserve and promote its strengths,” he had said, adding, “We should not allow the core values of our civilization to wither away,” in what was seen then in context to the lynching of a Akhlaq Ahmad in Dadri, Uttar Pradesh on the false pretext of consuming beef.
We should not allow the core values of our civilization to wither away #PresidentMukherjee
— President of India (@RashtrapatiBhvn) October 7, 2015
Indian democracy is a marvel and we must celebrate, preserve and promote its strengths #PresidentMukherjee
— President of India (@RashtrapatiBhvn) October 7, 2015
“Hate speech and fear mongering should come to an end. Our values should become part of our daily life. We must amplify the voice of moderation. We should not permit religion to be used as a mask to satisfy hunger for power and control of some individuals,” he further said.
In fact Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had avoided direct condemnation of the Dadri lynching for almost two weeks too had referred to the President’s speech during a rally in Bihar.
It appears that President Pranab Mukherjee is trying act as the conscience keeper of the ‘core values’ of Indian democracy and glorious civilisation, by indirectly reminding the BJP led NDA government and the rabid Hindutva forces of what India stands for.
It should be noted here that immediately in the aftermath of the 2002 Gujarat pogrom, then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had reminded him of “Raj Dharma” during a Live press conference, much to the discomfort of Modi, then Chief Minister of Gujarat, who was sitting next to him. Vajpayee had said, “A King must not distinguish between his subjects, based on birth, caste or religion.”
Meanwhile, not long ago – look who got schooled on 'Raj Dharma'. Here is former PM Atal Bajpayee, teaching Raj Dharma to Gujarat CM, Modi. Eventually, Modi had to defend that he is indeed doing 'Raj Dharma', but by then what had to be said was already completed. The body language says it all. Guess – CM didn't learn the lesson back then, else 10 days delayed response on Dadri, that too during election campaign in Bihar would not have happened. #BJP, #RajDharma, #Duplicity #BiharPolls #DivisivePolitics #Communalism #VoteBanks
Posted by Raj Mastradio on Tuesday, October 13, 2015
A visibly agitated Modi had quietly said, “Hum wahi kar rahe hain Janab (I am also doing the same Sir)”.
Meanwhile, Twitter has once again reacted to the President’s comment, as within hours “President Pranab Mukherjee” has become one of the top trends. While many supported his views, some have not taken to it kindly. Madhu Kishwar, Professor, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, termed it as “sermons” that is getting “tiresome”.
Pranab Mukherjee's sermons getting tiresome. Better ways to be in news. Didn't open his mouth when massacres took place under Congress rule
— Madhu Kishwar (@madhukishwar) October 19, 2015