Guard against forces of violence: President Pranab Mukherjee

NEW DELHI: President Pranab Mukherjee, who has time and again spoken against intolerance, reiterated the message yet again on his Republic Day eve address to the nation. People of the nation "must guard ourselves against the forces of violence, intolerance and unreason," he said. "Our finest inheritance, the institutions of democracy, ensure to all citizens justice, equality and gender and economic equity. When grim instances of violence hit at these established values which are at the core of our nationhood, it is time to take note," he said.

The President also said that while rebellion was also a virtue of democracy, it was important to applaud what our democracy has achieved since Independence. He said that there "will be among us occasional doubters and baiters. Let us continue to complain; to demand; to rebel. This too is a virtue of democracy."

The President also spoke strongly on the rise of terrorism in many countries of the world and in a way, hinting out at recent deferring of talks between India and Pakistan after Pathankot attack. He said peace cannot be discussed under a shower of bullets. "There will be disputes among nations; and, as is well-known, the closer we are to a neighbour the higher the propensity for disputes. There is a civilised way to bridge disagreement; dialogue, ideally, should be a continual engagement. But we cannot discuss peace under a shower of bullets."

The President said though 2015 was a year of challenges as the global economy remained subdued, unpredictability ruled the commodity markets, exports, and manufacturing sectors suffered and investors withdrew their funds, India was building and implementing strategies to solve these problems and this year, it is poised to become the fastest growing economy with an estimated growth rate of 7.3 per cent.