Stop using religion to satisfy hunger for power: President

President Pranab Mukherjee has called for bringing “hate speech and fear mongering” to an end and stop the use of “religion as a mask to satisfy the hunger for power and control” of some individuals.

President Pranab Mukherjee has called for bringing “hate speech and fear mongering” to an end and stop the use of “religion as a mask to satisfy the hunger for power and control” of some individuals.

President Pranab Mukherjee has called for bringing ‘hate speech and fear mongering’ to an end. (PTI)

In an interview to an Arabic daily from Jordan, Al Ghad, he said that leaders of every country, belief and neighbourhood need to take a “clear and public stand against intolerance of any kind”.

Mukherjee will leave on Saturday morning for a six day visit to Jordan, Palestine and Israel, becoming the first Indian President to visit these countries.

“Tolerance and co-existence are basic tenets of our civilisation. We hold them very dear to our hearts…Jawaharlal Nehru propounded the five principles of peaceful co-existence amongst nations…hate speech and fear mongering should come to an end. Our values should become part of our daily life. We must amplify the voice of moderation. We should not permit religion to be used as a mask to satisfy hunger for power and control of some individuals,” Mukherjee said.

The remarks come against the backdrop of a controversy over killing of a Muslim villager in UP over suspicion of beef consumption.

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