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We need no sermons on secularism, says PM

The Prime Minister, A.B. Vajpayee, releasing coins of Rs. 100 and Rs. 5 denominations on the concluding day of the year-long celebration of the 2,600th birth anniversary of Lord Mahavir, in New Delhi on Thursday. Along with him are (from right) the Union Home Minister, L.K. Advani, the Finance Minister, Yashwant Sinha, and the Tourism Minister, Jagmohan. — Photo: S. Arneja.

New Delhi April 25. The Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, tonight hit back at countries expressing concern over the communal violence in Gujarat saying there was no need to give sermons to India on secularism and pluralism.

``India is being advised on pluralism and secularism. We need not learn about secularism from anybody,'' he said apparently expressing strong indignation over concern voiced by Britain, Canada and some European Union countries. Mr. Vajpayee was speaking at a function here on the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti.

"We need not learn secularism from anybody. Our foundation is strong. There is no reason why people, who in the present circumstances have deviated, should not come back on the right path,'' Mr. Vajpayee said in an apparent reference to the Gujarat situation.

The Home Minister, L.K. Advani, said the Gujarat incidents were a temporary deviation and it was the joint responsibility of the people as well as the Government to face the situation.

To a demand by Indu Jain, philanthropist, to accord minority status to the community, Mr. Vajpayee wondered why a large community wanted to be reduced to a minority and why a small community wanted a bigger status. The Finance Minister, Yashwant Sinha, and the Tourism Minister, Jagmohan, were also present.

— PTI

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