Need to ‘neutralise’ those putting political interests above nation: V-P

Jaipur, August 18

Having different views is the “fragrance of the bouquet of democracy” but only till national interest is not sacrificed, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar said here on Sunday and asserted that those who prioritise individual and political interests over the country should be “neutralised”.

He said if national interest is not kept paramount, the difference of opinion in politics can become anti-national. 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,” he said.

The V-P was addressing an event organised to honour the families of organ donors here. 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 added. The V-P said democracy had its own merit in politics. He said national interest should never be compromised under any circumstances as “Indianness” is our identity.

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. — PTI