Representational.
New Delhi: The opposition parties in India at the national have issued a joint statement, an appeal, urging the people of the country to maintain peace and harmony. The statement undersigned by prominent leaders of Congress, Trinamool Congress, CPI(M), RJD, DMK, National Conference etc., also called for stringent punishment for perpetrators of communal violence.
The statement said that those undersigned are extremely anguished at how sections of the ruling faction deliberately create issues related to food, dress, faith, festivals and language to polarise the society. They said that they are concerned with the growing incidents of hate speeches, and such incidents have the endorsement of the administration since no action is being taken against the perpetrators.
The statement said that they condemn various outbursts of communal violence incidents that happened in certain states of India. There is a sinister pattern in these occurrences as incendiary hate speeches trigger aggressive armed religious processions, which open gates to communal riots. Also, it is excruciating that social media and audio-visual media were being misused, with official patronage, to spread hatred and prejudice, it said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is keeping his mouth shut of hates speech, actions etc., amounting to propagating bigotry, inciting and provoking society, and this silence is perfect evidence that such incidents have the government's backing, the statement alleged.
The statement further said that they reiterate the collective resolve to work together, strengthen bonds, combat poisonous ideologies and resist divisiveness.
The country will prosper only if it "respects, accommodates and celebrates" diversities in full measure, the statement said. It appealed to all sections of people to maintain peace, prevent sinister objectives of those intending to communally polarise society and work together in maintaining peace and harmony.
The signatories include INC president Sonia Gandhi, NCP's Sharad Pawar, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee (TMC), Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin (DMK), CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, Dr Farooq Abdullah (J&K NC), Bihar Leader of Opposition Tejaswi Yadav etc.