Former President Mukherjee stresses plurarism and tolerance at RSS function

Former President Pranab Mukherjee addresses RSS function in Nagpur, asserts, India derives her strength from tolerance and respect for pluralism, stresses on need for dialogue to balance competing interests

Former President Pranab Mukherjee was welcomed by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat at Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh founder KB Hedgewar’s birthplace in Nagpur.

Pranab Mukherjee who participated as the Chief Guest at the concluding ceremony of RSS’ Tritya Varsh Training Programme spoke on the concepts of nation, nationalism and patrotism. He said India’s national identity has emerged after a long drawn process of confluence and assimilation and the multiple cultures and faiths in India make us special and tolerant.

Pranab Mukherjee said that democracy is not a gift but a sacred trust. He hailed the Constitution as a magna carta for socio-economic transformation.

He spoke on the need for dialogue to balance and reconcile competing interests and how the objective of spreading peace, harmony and happiness should guide all actions of our state and society and from that will flow nationalism automatically.

Earlier, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat addressed the gathering where he spoke in a similar vein, asserting that Sangh believes in uniting all and it’s aim is to organise and integrate society and not divide it.

The RSS chief also referred to the controversy created over Pranab Mukherjee’s acceptance of RSS invite for the event saying it was unnecessary as RSS was only following tradition of inviting people who have made significant contributions to national life as Chief Guest and have the benefit of their experience.