DISAGREE BUT DON’T MOCK FELLOW CITIZEN

Veiled R-Day Prez message to Karni Sena; also institutions more important than individuals

President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday called for a "civic-minded" society where one can disagree with views - even those which have a historical context -- without mocking a fellow citizen’s dignity and personal space.

The comments in the backdrop of the raging row and violence over Bollywood film Padmaavat.‘‘A civic-minded nation is built by civic-minded neighbourhoods, whether in our cities or our villages. Where we respect the nextdoor person's space, privacy and rights. Where we do not inconvenience our neighbours while celebrating a festival or while resorting to a protest or on any other occasion.

"Where one can disagree with another viewpoint -- or even with a historical context -- without mocking a fellow citizen's dignity and personal space. This is fraternity in action."

In his first Republic Dayeve address to the nation, the President also said that institutions should be "disciplined and morally upright", adding that they are always "more important" than the individuals in office. The institutions should also respect their "fraternal relationship" with other institutions, he added. Touching on other issues, Kovind said it is our "sacred obligation" to eliminate the curse of poverty in the shortest possible time. "This is nonnegotiable for the Republic."

"A disciplined and morally upright nation is built by disciplined and morally upright

institutions. Institutions that respect their fraternal relationship with other institutions. Institutions that maintain the integrity, discipline and limits of their functioning, without compromising on excellence ." Institutions that are always more important than the individuals located there. And institutions where the holders and members make every attempt to live up to the office they occupy as trustees of the people," Kovind said.

He also said the country cannot be satisfied without meeting the basic needs and essential dignity of our less well-off people."I refer to those from a less privileged socio-economic background, from the weaker communities and from families that still live at the edge of poverty. It is our sacred obligation to eliminate the curse of poverty in the shortest possible time. This is non-negotiable for the Republic," he emphasised.

Observing that the "promise of a developed India beckons us", Kovind said this is the new stage of our nation-building project on which we have embarked. "This is the Republic that our young people need to take forward and enhance in keeping with their vision, their ambition and their ideals."Calling for reforms, upgradation and enlarging the education system, the President said over 60 percent of the country's population is below the age of 35. "It is in them that our hopes lie. We have made strides in spreading literacy; now we must expand the frontiers of education and of knowledge. Our aspiration must be to reform, upgrade and enlarge our education system and to make it relevant to 21stcentury realities of the digital economy, genomics, robotics and automation..."

Calling for a renewal of the spirit of philanthropy, he asked people to collate their privileges and entitlements and then look at less-privileged members of a similar background, those who are starting off from where they once started.