The Hindu : Revive the spirit of tolerance: President

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 29, 2002

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Revive the spirit of tolerance: President

By Our Special Correspondent

New Delhi March 28. The President, K.R. Narayanan, today came as close as he could to expressing publicly his unhappiness over the happenings in Gujarat.

In his Holi message to the nation, the President noted that "at this moment when communal disturbances are taking place in parts of our country, it is important that we summon our traditional spirit of tolerance in order to establish peace and harmony among our people''.

While extending his greetings to the citizens on the "joyous occasion of Holi'', the President found a way of giving expression to dismay over the reports of the administrative indifference towards continuing violence in Gujarat.

A separate press release from Rashtrapati Bhavan noted that "in view of the communal disturbances prevailing in parts of our country, the President will not celebrate Holi this year and will not receive any visitor in this connection''.

The President is not the only constitutional functionary who has decided not to celebrate Holi. In fact, it will be a quiet Holi tomorrow in the Capital's elite political circles.

The Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, left here today on a three-day private visit to Nainital in Uttaranchal. He will be staying at the Raj Bhavan during the break.

He has already decided not to celebrate Holi due to the carnage in Gujarat.

Similarly, the Union Home Minister, L.K. Advani, has also decided not to celebrate Holi in view of the loss of life in the Gujarat violence.

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