PM should appeal to reduce communal tension: Gehlot

Jaipur: Amidst violent incidents reported from various parts of the country mainly targeting Muslims during the Ram Navami celebrations , Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Friday said that peace is a pre-requisite for development and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ask state governments to act against nuisance elements in the name of religion and make an appeal for peace.

Gehlot reminded that development is not possible without peace and expressed concern over increasing incidents of communal tension in the country.

"Mahatma Gandhi had said that I am proud to be a Hindu but my Hindu religion is neither intolerant nor the one that boycotts anyone. We are all Hindus but our religion teaches that we should respect all religions. If we all respect each other's religion by keeping this in mind, then such a situation will not arise," he said.

"I again appeal to the honourable prime minister to give a message to the nation to reduce the rising communal tension in the country and to the state governments to take action against mischievous elements who are creating nuisance in the name of religion," he said.

In an oblique reference to the recent clash in the Jawaharlal Nehru University over serving of non vegetarian food, and the attempts for banning hijab in Karnataka colleges, Gehlot said that if the people of the country keep fighting with each other over food, attire and religious traditions and some unruly elements keep provoking them, then this country will remain entangled in small issues.

"The prime minister should try to improve the deteriorating environment of the country by appealing to the people of the country for peace. If there will be discrimination between citizens of the country, then it will not be proper for the future of the country," the chief minister added.

(Based on PTI feed)