Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Sunday (August 18) said that those who prioritise individual and political interests over the country should be "neutralised". He noted that having different views is the "fragrance of the bouquet of democracy" but only till national interest is not sacrificed. He said that difference of opinion in politics can become “anti-national” if the national interest is not kept paramount. He also appealed that people should stop such forces for the development of the nation.
"It is not appropriate to forgo national interest for individual and political interests. If the national interest is not kept paramount, then the difference of opinion in politics becomes anti-national," Dhankhar said.
He was addressing an event organised to honour the families of organ donors in Jaipur.
He said people should understand those for whom the nation's interest is not paramount and who put political and personal interests above it. "And if they still persist, I urge everyone to neutralise these forces that are pernicious to the growth of this nation," he further said.
The vice president said democracy has its own merit in politics. Having different views is the "fragrance of the bouquet of democracy" but it is only till the national interest is not sacrificed. He said national interest should never be compromised under any circumstances as "Indianness" is our identity.
He said the development that is taking place in India and its speed is "unimaginable", about which today's generation has no idea. He appealed to the new generation to look at the Constitution Day as to when the Constitution was threatened.
He said some people say the dark chapter of the 'Emergency' ended with the recent elections. "No, we cannot forget the atrocities of the 'Emergency' and that is why the initiative taken by the Government of India to celebrate 'Samvidhan Hatya Diwas' to warn our new generation that they should know there was a period in which you did not have any fundamental rights," Dhankhar said.
(With PTI inputs)
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