Southern States - Tamil Nadu-Chennai   

Remain vigilant against communal forces, people told

By Our Special Correspondent

Chennai April 7. Senior Gandhian leader, Nirmala Deshpande, today said the communal frenzy that raged across Gujarat last year, should not be allowed to be repeated in the country. "After one year of work there, we, Gandhians, realised that the problem of communalism was seething for 10 years, but we failed to read the signals".

People should remain vigilant so that the frenzy would not raise its head in other States, she told newspersons here after inaugurating the Tamil Nadu branch of the Akhil Bharat Rachnatmak Samaj--a Federation of Gandhian institutions across the country. However, she maintained that the unity and secular tradition of the country was being attacked but only by a "small group of fundamentalists on both Hinduism and Islam". For centuries, people of different faiths have been living together in this country. But be it Hindu or any other religion, a small group of fundamentalists were trying to disturb this harmony.

She said the federation meeting, to be held in Jaipur, Rajasthan, in May-end, would deliberate the issue and come out with programmes to counter the communalisation of society. "Our volunteers would then fan out to spread the Gandhi's message of non-violence and work for uplift of the downtrodden".

She regretted that the response to anti-war sentiments was rather lukewarm in India. "Only a small number of people in India have been protesting against the war in Iraq", while protests in the U.K. and the U.S. saw participation of huge number of people.

Ms. Deshpande said the Federation of Gandhian Institutions had set up a cell in New Delhi, calling upon youth and students to boycott U.S. goods, especially the aerated drinks. Already many students had responded to the call, she added.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Science & Tech | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• East coast roads work in a few months
• Age won't deter QMC alumni
• 27 bonded labourers rescued from U.P. sweet units
• Remain vigilant against communal forces, people told
• TNRDC to take up work on six-lane expressway
• Redesign highways to prevent accidents, says Governor
• Roadside eateries thrive on lacunae

Copyright © 2003, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu