Need to unite against hate: Manmohan Singh

NEWDELHI: Former prime minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday warned that use of religion and caste by political parties to capture power can create an atmosphere of hate and division, and asserted that saner elements in the society need to unite to counter such evil designs.

He said that attempts at communal polarisation can create an atmosphere of fear, anxiety and uncertainty and said secular character of all the institutions, judiciary, executive and legislature, is a pre-requisite for peace and harmony.

Addressing a conference organised by the Pranab Mukherjee Foundation, Singh claimed that the integrity of major institutions is facing many challenges in the country, while noting that a nation with- out well functioning institutions is “bound to fail”.

The deterioration adversely affects the functioning of state organs and erodes their credibility, he said.

“Such a situation, he said, can create chaos in society, economy and polity,” he said at the conference —‘Towards Peace, Harmony and Happiness: Transition to Transformation’.

The Congress leader said that institutions of governance are a necessary condition to maintain peace and harmony. Besides, they must be impartial, objective and should function for the benefit of all sections of society. “Unfortunately, the use of religion, caste and other such factors by the political parties to advance their political interests and capture power can create an atmosphere of hate and division among religious and caste groups,” Singh said.