President Pratibha Patil has expressed deep anguish at the recent incidents of violence and intolerance that have rocked several states of the country, and said these go against the cultural ethos and civilisational values of the country. She, however, asserted that these would not be able to divert India from the path of growth and dilute the basic tolerant character of the nation.Speaking at a function here on Sunday, during which she also gave away the Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Memorial Award for National Integration to The Indian Express Editor-in-Chief Shekhar Gupta for 2006 and Shabana Azmi for 2007, the President said those who had indulged in violence and intolerant acts had chosen the wrong path. “Recently, incidents of violence and intolerance have occurred in our country. This goes against our cultural ethos and civilisational values. It is deeply distressing that they have chosen the wrong path and a divisive agenda,” she said.“Violence, however, should not divert us from our path of growth and it should not be allowed to dilute our basic tolerant character. India achieved Independence through non-violent means. It has followed the route of democracy and advocated the principles of peace and harmony. This must and will continue to be the path of our nation,” she added.President Patil said India has and would continue to face many challenges and differences. “But every challenge contains a message and every difference has a solution. We must overcome these obstacles and work relentlessly for one goal of building a progressive country and a compassionate country,” she said.The President also said that the media, while bringing news to the forefront, must also carry messages in a manner that helps in building a constructive approach.Earlier, delivering his acceptance speech, Shekhar Gupta said that though politics is considered the root cause of various problems, it is also in politics that treatment and solution to various problems lie. “In a democracy, people often hate politics. Every day we curse politicians. But, it is in a democracy where, as politics is considered the root cause of various problems, it is true that the treatment and solution also lie in politics. That is why we look for political solutions to various issues,” he said.He also focused on the role of the media and said, “journalists don’t do things deliberately. Journalists do all things while trying to report correctly on any issue braving allurement, cynicism and overcoming laziness.”Recalling his association with Assam and the Northeast, especially during the days of the Assam agitation over the influx during the early 1980s, Gupta said, “It has been 25 years since I left this part of the country. Many things have changed since then except the warmth of the people.I must admit, my most enduring friendships are with people in the Northeast.”
