Humanity is the biggest religion and everybody should follow and imbibe it in their lives, Himachal Pradesh Governor Acharya Devvrat said at a programme organised here today by the Hind Samachar Group to provide assistance to families affected by the scourge of terrorism.
Speaking at the ‘Shahid Pariwar Fund Vitran Samaroh’, organised by editor-in-chief of the Samachar Group Vijay Kumar Chopra, Devvrat said that humanity is the “biggest religion and everybody should follow and imbibe it in their lives”.
“The culture of our country is based on Sarva Dharma Sama Bhava (equality of all religions) and not just religion. Hence it becomes duty of every citizens to consider humanity the basis of religion and follow it,” he said.
Congress leader Sunil Jakhar said that terrorism can be traced to extremism. “And therefore we should try to ensure extremist ideologies are exterminated from people’s minds,” he said.
Jakhar, who recently resigned as LoP in Punjab Assembly, said “some people” are trying to “divide” the country and Punjab but they have been rejected by the people.
“But we need to remain alert and vigilant,” he said, adding “it requires reform in our education system.”
Union Minister JP Nadda said the central government is “committed” to eradicating terrorism from the country. “PM Narendra Modi has raised the issue not only at the national but at international level as well. Earlier western nations used to impose their judgements on this issues on others. Now they themselves are facing this problem,” he said.
Jammu and Kashmir deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Nirmal Singh said that the people of his state are the most affected by terrorism. “And worst hit among them are the Kashmiri Pandits. Now the central government is working towards their rehabilitation alongside the state government,” Singh said.
President of the Atankvad Nirodhak Morcha Maninderjit Singh Bitta said political parties are united in discussing terrorism but “discussions only will not do.”
Bitta said “some people” are raising the issue of Khalistan again and trying to “mislead” youths but this idea had been rejected earlier and is being rejected now as well.
As many as 112 families affected by terrorism received financial assistance on the occasion.