Attacks on weaker sections need to be dealt with firmly: Pranab

NEW DELHI: On the eve of India’s 70th Independence Day, President Pranab Mukherjee warned against the rise of divisive and intolerant forces’ “ugly head”, in what

NEW DELHI: On the eve of India’s 70th Independence Day, President Pranab Mukherjee warned against the rise of divisive and intolerant forces’ “ugly head”, in what can be seen as a message for the parties in power. NEW DELHI: On the eve of India’s 70th Independence Day, President Pranab Mukherjee warned against the rise of divisive and intolerant forces’ “ugly head”, in what can be seen as a message for the parties in power.

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Mukherjee asked for firm measures to deal with attacks on weaker sections of society amid allegations of increasing victimisation of Dalits and minorities, often by fringe elements of the ruling establishment.

“In these four years, I saw with disquiet forces of divisiveness and intolerance trying to raise their ugly head. Attacks on weaker sections that militate against our national ethos are aberrations that need to be dealt with firmly,” he said.

Mukherjee stressed on the need for authorities to uphold the “spirit and maryada” of the Constitution. A host of incidents including attacks on churches, rise of cow vigilantes, a Muslim’s lynching on the suspicion that he was storing beef and the suicide of Dalit student Rohit Vemulla had raised political storms with the ruling BJP coming under criticism.

“The Constitution has clearly defined the duties and responsibilities of every organ of the state. It has established the ancient Indian ethos of maryada as far as authorities and institutions of state power are concerned. The spirit of the Constitution has to be upheld...,” he said.