PTI
NEW DELHI, JANUARY 25
President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday said that ideally dialogue should be a continual engagement for resolving disputes among nations but peace cannot be discussed under a “shower of bullets”.
In significant remarks that come against the backdrop of the Pathankot attack, he also said terrorism is a war beyond any doctrine and is a “cancer which must be operated out with a firm scalpel”.
“There is no good or bad terrorism; it is pure evil,” the President said in his address to the nation on the eve of 67th Republic Day. Mukherjee said nations will not agree on everything but the challenge today is existential because terrorists seek to undermine order by rejecting the very basis of strategic stability which are recognised borders.
“If outlaws are able to unravel borders, then we are heading towards an age of chaos. There will be disputes among nations; and, as is well known, the closer we are to a neighbour, the higher the propensity for disputes. There is a civilised way to bridge disagreements; dialogue, ideally, should be a continual engagement. But we cannot discuss peace under a shower of bullets,” he said.
Mukherjee said that the sub-continent has a historic opportunity to become a beacon to the world at a time of great danger. “We must attempt to resolve the complex edges of the emotional and geo-political inheritance with neighbours through a peaceful dialogue, and invest in mutual prosperity by recognising that human beings are best defined by a humane spirit, and not their worst instincts.
Our example can be its own message to a world in anxious need of amity,” he said.
The President asserted that the optimism at the beginning of the 21st century that energies of people would be committed to a rising prosperity that would eliminate the curse of extreme poverty has faded in first 15 years. “There is unprecedented turbulence across vast regions, with alarming increase in regional instabilities. The scourge of terrorism has reshaped war into its most barbaric manifestation. No corner can now consider itself safe from this savage monster,” Mukherjee said.
He said terrorism is inspired by insane objectives, motivated by bottomless depths of hatred, instigated by puppeteers who have invested heavily in havoc through the mass murder of innocents. Tracing the birth of Indian Republic in 1950, the President said India today is a rising power fast emerging as a global leader in science, technology, innovation and start ups and whose economic success is the envy of the world.
Acharya calls for peace and development
Terming the year 2016 as a challenging year for Nagaland and its people, Governor PB Acharya today appealed to all sections of people to unitedly work for peace and development.
“We should build strong and clean characters, because only the clean and the strong have the courage and the selfless dedication to work for the progress of the state and the nation. Let us all contribute towards building a ‘Swachh and Samridhh’ Golden Nagaland. Let us strengthen India,” the governor in his 67th Republic Day message said.
He said, “On the 26th day of January 1950, our founding fathers declared our nation as a pluralistic, secular, democratic republic. On this day, it was resolved to secure to all our citizens, Justice, social economic and political, Liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship, Equality of status and of opportunity, and to promote among them all Fraternity assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity of the Nation.
Through these ideals and her exemplary contribution in the fields of economic growth and international relations, India has today earned for itself its own independent status of prestige and honour in the international arena of great nations of the world.
On this proud day, we pay our humble salutations to those great men who gave to us this strong Republic and a great Constitution. Let us all remember with gratitude our Freedom Fighters, Scientists, Social Reformers & Wealth Creators.
Dear brothers & sisters, today the 26th January 2016 is also incidentally, the birth centenary day of our freedom fighter Lt. Smt. Padmashree Ranima Gaidinliu. Let us salute her and all other freedom fighters.
Our greatest strength lies in our adherence to the values of unity amidst diversity.”
Acharya felt that India cannot develop without the development of the Northeast and that government of India is according urgent importance towards the immediate progress and development of the region. “Steps have been initiated towards the development and improvement of the infrastructure and communication network of the region with immediate effect. Let us work in unison to make “Look East & Act East” a reality.”
Stating that Education, Electricity and Employment are the three ‘Es’ of progress through which rapid progress can be achieved, he said Nagaland has all the potentials for development.
“The state is a storehouse of resources to achieve unparalleled all-round progress. All it requires is the development of human skills through vocational education to optimize the utility of the available resources. It is time for us all to act now and without delay in a peaceful atmosphere of peace and progress.”
“21st century belongs to India. We have 65% youths in our population. They with skill education can be the biggest HRD for the world. North East India has lots of God given Natural Resources. Let our universities & young students get prepared by the new curriculum and learn how to create wealth & prosperity by utilizing the Natural Resources. Our capacity to increase the production of solar energy, organic food, flora & fauna, care for Ecology should be every one’s agenda.
“Our Prime Minister, Narendra Modiji’s Program like Jan Dhan Yojna, One Rupee - Atal Insurance Yojna, Make in India, Mudra Bank to help entrepreneur, Skill addition to all Universities conventional Degree Courses, keep our neighbouring countries friendly, Swach Bharat- Sunder Bharat, to be made success by each one of us has to be the nodal agent to take these projects and programs to the beneficiaries,” the governor said adding, “Our dynamic Prime Minister, Narendra Modiji’s Political will to solve North East insurgency in general and Nagaland in particular has resulted in the frame work of peace agreement with NSCN(IM). Let us all unite & see that all the factions unite & join in the frame work of peace agreement.”
