Stop attacking the weak, says Pranab

'Maintain dignity in discharge of duties'

President Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday called for stern action to stop attacks on the weaker sections of the society and women, terming such assaults “aberrations” on the national ethos.

In his fifth Independence Day address to the nation, Mukherjee also warned against the “unmindful pursuit” of a divisive political agenda and asked the institutions of state power to adhere to dignity in discharge of their duties.

The president’s remarks come in the wake of increasing incidents of attacks on Dalits and minorities, and growing vigilantism under the pretext of cow protection.

Mukherjee said during his four years as president he had seen forces of divisiveness and intolerance trying to rear their “ugly head”. “Attacks on weaker sections that militate against our national ethos are aberrations that need to be dealt with firmly,” he said.

Mukherjee said the safety and security that the country provides to women and children determined the well-being of the state and society. “We cannot call ourselves a civilised society if we fail to protect our women and children,” he said.

The president said the collective wisdom of the society and the country’s polity gave him the confidence that such forces would remain marginalised and India’s remarkable growth story would continue uninterrupted.

He cautioned that disruptions, obstructionism and unmindful pursuit of a divisive political agenda by groups and individuals lead to nothing, but institutional travesty and Constitutional subversion.

“Polarising debates only deepen the fault lines in public discourse,” he said. In his 14-minute address, Mukherjee said he had seen with “some satisfaction” stable and progressive democracy in full play.

“Notwithstanding the different hues of political thought, I have seen the ruling party and the opposition coming together in pursuit of the national agenda of development, unity, integrity and security of the nation,” he said referring to the passage of the GST Bill.

He said the “non-partisan” and quality Parliamentary deliberations were reasons enough to celebrate “our democratic maturity”.

Mukherjee said that backed by a strong political will, the country must create a future which would economically empower 600 million youth, build a digital India, a startup India and a skilled India.
“India will grow, only when all of India grows. The excluded ones will have to be included in the development process. The hurt and alienated have to be brought back into the mainstream,” he said.