Desai comes down heavily on communalism

Quoting lines from patriotic songs, he observed that while we firmly believe in the song saare jahan se achha, the lines mazhab nahin sikhaata aapas mein bair rakhna were equally relevant today and that people should resolve to keep communal elements out of public life.

Expressing concern over the recent communal skirmishes in Bardoli, Desai said what troubled him the most was that the poor and the innocent bore the brunt of the riots, while anti-social elements, extortionists and politicians, drew political mileage out of them.

Desai, while providing figures, said after Indonesia, India had the largest number of muslims. Claiming that the population of Muslims living in Pakistan, Afghanistan and other Islamic countries did not equal those residing in India, he said under such circumstances, it is necessary for a country to maintain its secular fibre.

Defining religion as Je ek bija ne jode e dharma ane je ek bija ne tode e adharma (that which unites people is religion and that which divides is not)” he said, this was one of the primary objectives of the Sarvodaya movement. Emphasising the need to uphold the movement, he said communal harmony would help tackle other national issues more effectively.

While the shanti sabha was attended by leaders of different communities, who pledged to maintain peace, Desai was also felicitated on the occasion for his contribution towards restoring peace in the region.

Among others, representatives of a number of social and voluntary organisations, educational institutions and those from religious communities attended the meeting, according to a statement issued here.

Eleven SMC assistant engineers promoted: AS many as 11 assistant engineers working with various departments of Surat Municipal Corporation were promoted as deputy engineers by Municipal Commissioner S Jagadeesan on Sunday. Four other assistant engineers have been given the additional charge of deputy engineer.