The Hindu : Karnataka News : ‘Communal harmony must for national integration’

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Wednesday, Feb 13, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka

‘Communal harmony must for national integration’

Staff Correspondent

ONE NATION: Gandhian S.V. Manjunath and his wife, Subamma Manjunath, inaugurating the State-level Children’s National Integration Mela of Bharat Seva Dal in Udupi on Tuesday.

Udupi: Gandhian S.V. Manjunath on Tuesday said that children should follow Gandhian principles and promote communal harmony in society. He was speaking after inaugurating the State-level Children’s National Integration Mela organised by the Bharat Seva Dal here. A large number of students from different parts of the State are participating in the mela.

Mr. Manjunath said that students should have the task of nation building uppermost in their minds and should work towards that end when they take up their respective vocations. They should work to remove untouchability which was still being followed in some parts of the country. They should do their utmost to alleviate poverty in the country, he said.

Releasing a book, “INA Ramarao”, the former Chairman of the Legislative Council, V.R. Sudarshan, said that Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Nehru had struggled to achieve India’s independence and had laid the foundation for the growth of a modern India. B.R. Ambedkar had strived to produce the Constitution for the country. The Constitution was regarded among the best in the world.

Equal respect should be given to all religions and languages. Communal harmony was essential for the development of the country. Gandhian principles were more relevant today when countries were embracing policies of globalisation. Democracy in India should be strengthened, Mr. Sudarshan said.

Releasing another book, “Bharat Seva Dal Nadedu Banda Daari”, the MLC, V.S. Acharya, said that camps such as this one went a long way in promoting the all-round development of children. Students should always be honest, sincere and hardworking.

They should excel in whatever field they chose and work for national integration, he said.

General secretary of the State unit of Bharat Seva Dal U.R. Sabhapathi welcomed the gathering. President of the State unit of Bharat Seva Dal H.M. Gurusiddaswami presided over the function. President of the Udupi Zilla Panchayat Raju Poojary, the former Minister, Vasanth Salian, the former MP, Vinaykumar Sorake, were present.

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