Hate speech against nation’s Constitution: V-P

Venkaiah Naidu says the philosophy of sharing and caring is at the core of India’s age-old culture and must be widely propagated.

Kottayam: Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu on Monday spoke out against hate speech, saying it goes against the country’s culture, Constitution and ethos, and that “every person has the right to practise and preach his or her faith”.

Addressing an event marking the 150th death anniversary of Saint Kuriakose Elias Chavara in Kottayam, Kerala, the Vice-President said, “Hate speech and writings are against (the country’s) culture, heritage, tradition and Constitutional rights and ethos. Every person has the right to practise and preach his or her faith in the country. Practice your religion but don’t abuse and indulge in hate speech and writings,’’ he said, expressing his “disapproval of attempts to ridicule other religions and create dissensions in society”.

Saying Saint Chavara, the 19th century Catholic priest, philosopher and social reformer, “has taught us that peaceful human relationships are sacred and more important than anything else”, Naidu said, “Today, we need a Chavara in every community — a towering individual with a vision to unite all sections of society socially and culturally, and take the country forward.”

He said the philosophy of sharing and caring is at the core of India’s age-old culture and must be widely propagated. “For us, the whole world is one family as encapsulated in our timeless ideal, ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’. It is with this spirit that we should move forward together”, he said. –(PTI)