V Prez calls upon people to protect nation’s unity, sovereignty & integrity; Says, there is no place for violence in a democracy

Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu has said, people have every right to protest, but there is no place for violence in a democracy. He said, damaging public property would be harming the nation’s interests. Mr Naidu called upon people to shun extremist tendencies. The Vice President was interacting with a group of students from Jawaharlal Nehru University at Upa-Rashtrapati Nivas yesterday. He called upon the people to protect the nation’s unity, sovereignty and integrity. He said, hatred and intolerance are not part of Indian culture.

The Vice President reiterated that India is the largest thriving parliamentary democracy and follows the principle of ‘Sarva Dharma Sambhava’. He said, the colonial rulers tried to create an inferiority complex among Indians. He urged students to take pride in India’s glorious civilization. He advised them to read about the lives and teachings of our great leaders and emulate their qualities to achieve success.

The Vice President asked the students to protect and promote their mother tongue, while acquiring proficiency in as many languages as possible. He advised them to adopt healthy food practices and undertake regular exercise.