Pranab tells governors to ensure communal peace;

President Pranab Mukherjee (centre), Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Union ministers at the 46th Governors' Conference at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday.President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday asked governors to ensure peace and communal harmony in their respective states and cautioned them that any deviation from the principles and provisions of the Constitution would weaken the democratic fabric of the country.
The President emphasised the sanctity of the Constitution in his opening address at the 46th Governors' Conference at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.
"Governors and lieutenant governors have the primary responsibility to ensure that the affairs of the states and Union Territories are conducted strictly in accordance with the letter and spirit of this hallowed document (the Constitution of India). Prevalence of peace and communal harmony must be ensured," he said.

 

 

"Every Indian looks forward to the Constitution as the guarantor of her liberties, freedom and equality," the President added. Twenty one governors and two lieutenant governors attended the conference. One of the agendas of the conference was internal and external security with special focus on states that share international borders.

Mukherjee reminded the governors of their 'Raj Dharma' and reiterated the supremacy of the Constitution in the wake of a recent controversy over the words 'secular' and 'socialist' in the Preamble.Mukherjee with Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
This is the second time in recent months when the President has put forward his point of view on issues of raging debates.
Mukherjee had earlier spoken against the government introducing ordinances too frequently in the House even as he had asked the Opposition not to stall Parliament. In his address at the governors' conference, the President laid special emphasis on the development of the North-East states as he mentioned the need to counter ethnic violence in Assam "effectively, especially the sinister motives to drive a wedge between Bodo and non-Bodo sections".
"The genuine aspirations of Bodo people, in terms of development, must be addressed expeditiously. Under no circumstances can the spread of ethnic hatred be tolerated," he said.
Talking about economic priorities, the President said India is projected to have the largest workforce in the world by 2025. "This demographic dividend is a double-edged sword. If its huge potential is tapped, it could become a powerful engine of growth. If we fail, it could create social tensions," he said.

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