The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : We will ensure communal harmony: Chief Minster

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 13, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

We will ensure communal harmony: Chief Minster

Staff Reporter

`Doubts over new coalition Government's credentials will be cleared soon'

BANGALORE: Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Sunday asserted that the new coalition Government will ensure that communal harmony continues to prevail in the State.

Speaking at a civic reception organised by the Archdiocese of Bangalore for the members of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) at the St. Joseph's Indian High School Grounds here, the Chief Minister said: "People, especially members of the minority communities, need not be apprehensive about the continuance of communal harmony in the State. Through this religious platform, I assure you all that Karnataka will continue to be a State known for its communal harmony." "After the new coalition Government was set up, many doubts have been raised about `secularism' and `communalism' in the State. I promise that all these doubts will be cleared soon," he said.

Assuring the Archdiocese of Bangalore that the new Government will be committed towards implementing the resolutions adopted by the CBCI, the Chief Minister lauded the Christian missionaries' contribution to the fields of education and health.

He recalled that he had the privilege of studying in a Christian college for one year in Hassan. "If I have imbibed any good qualities, I owe it to the head of that institution," he said.

Seeking the blessings of the heads of the Catholic Church, the Chief Minister said: "I promise you that the new Government will give priority to education and uplift of the downtrodden."

Governor T.N. Chaturvedi, who hailed the services of Christian missionaries in the fields of education and health, said: "These missionaries have played a pioneering role in developing society. I hope the Catholic Church of India will also provide a new dimension to education in the coming days."

"Education should not be for a privileged few. We should democratise education with emphasis on excellence. Ways of providing the right kind of education to all sections should be explored so that it (education) plays the role of equalising social differences," the Governor said.

Cyriac Joseph, Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court, explained the meaning of secularism as defined by the former President S. Radhakrishnan. "According to Dr. Radhakrishnan, secularism is not anti-God or anti-religion. It only means equal respect for all religions," he said.

"Often people believe that secularism is a commandant enshrined in the Constitution of India. I wish to assert that this commandant is not only for the Government to follow but also for the people. It is our duty to respect and value one another's religions," he said.

Calling upon people to imbibe the spirit of secularism, he said: "If people practice secularism, there will be no discord or disharmony among us. Secularism also means live and let live. But it will be great if we live and also help others to let live," he said.

"The fact that the Chief Minister, the Governor and the Chief Justice of the High Court are present on this common platform explains and manifests the spirit and values of secularism," he added.

The Archbishop of Bangalore Bernard Moras welcomed the gathering. While the Principal of St. Joseph's Pre-University College Yvonne Rasquinha delivered the felicitation speech, the President of CBCI Telesphore Cardinal Toppo released a souvenir.

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