Communalism, terrorism a big challenge to national unity: PM

Describing communalism and terrorism as a big challenge, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday said the country gets a "bad name" because of some "misguided" people and asked the nation to jointly fight the menace.

"Communalism and terrorism have become a big challenge to our unity and integrity. Some misguided people of our society encourage them. But due to this, our whole society and country get a bad name. To face this challenge we will have to work together. We need to be vigilant at all times," Singh said.

He was speaking at a function held to confer the National Communal Harmony Awards.
"In our country, there has been a strong tradition of mutual tolerance and communal brotherhood. Respecting our unity and integrity is an important part of our culture. We have to keep up this tradition," he said.
Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, the Prime Minister said our desire for unity can be achieved only when we have a feeling of large-heartedness and love towards each other.
"It is our pious duty that we contribute to improving the social relations between different communities. In our country, peace and communal harmony is possible only with the active participation of our citizens," he said.
He insisted that all citizens should spread the message of tolerance and mutual brotherhood in all parts and corners of the country.

Speaking on the occasion, Vice President Hamid Ansari said the country needed a pervasive preventive approach to communal disharmony and a conscious programme of fostering communal harmony.

"The state has no choice but to intervene in instances of communal disharmony. Such interventions can either be preventive or corrective in nature. The general focus has remained on corrective steps due to the intense focus and interest in the wake of incidents of communal disharmony," Ansari said.

He maintained that while this is necessary, it is not sufficient.

"We need a pervasive preventive approach to communal disharmony and a conscious programme of fostering communal harmony." (ST-29/07)

Hanif Khan Shastri, Lokesh Muni gets Communal harmony awards

Vice President Hamid Ansari on Friday conferred the National Communal Harmony Award on Mohammad Hanif Khan Shastri, Acharya Lokesh Muni and the Centre for Human Rights and Social Harmony for promoting the cause of national integration and amity among communities
Shastri, who works with Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, has endeavoured to promote communal harmony by highlighting similarities between Hindu and Muslim religions through his unique literary contributions in Hindi and Sanskrit. He was conferred the award for the year 2009.
Through his works, Shastri has tried to show similarities between the Quran and Hindu mythology.
Acharya Muni is the Founder President of Ahimsa Vishwa Bharati, a Delhi based voluntary organisation, which aims at promoting non-violence, peace, communal harmony, working against female foeticide and drug addiction and providing help during natural calamities. He was given the award for 2010.
He had worked to de-escalate Hindu Muslim strife after the Jama Masjid explosion in 2006 and tension between Dera Sacha Sauda and the Sikh community in 2007.
The Centre for Human Rights and Social Welfare, which was conferred the award for 2009, is a Jaipur based social organisation which has been working for human rights, communal harmony and national integration apart from working for the homeless persons, welfare of women, footpath dwellers, rehabilitation of the needy and deprived persons.
It is also active in holding blood donation camps, solving drinking water problems, providing shelter for destitute women from different communities and promoting fraternity and social harmony.
Speaking on the occasion, Ansari said, "The state has no choice but to intervene in instances of communal disharmony. Such interventions can either be preventive or corrective in nature. The general focus has remained on corrective steps due to the intense focus and interest in the wake of incidents of communal disharmony."
He maintained that while this is necessary, it is not sufficient.
"We need a pervasive preventive approach to communal disharmony and a conscious programme of fostering communal harmony."
Home Minister Chidambaram said the National Communal Harmony Award was constituted in 1996 to recognise the contribution of those individuals and organisations who have worked to further the cause of communal harmony and national integration.