Reject vigilantism, but be vigilant: President to people

NEW DELHI: Raising the issue of lynchings in the country in the name of vigilantism, President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday said when mob frenzy becomes so "irrational and uncontrollable", the people have to be "vigilant" to save the basic tenets of the society.

President Pranab Mukherjee speaking at a function in Delhi on Saturday. — PTI

New Delhi, July 1

Raising the issue of lynchings in the country in the name of vigilantism, President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday said when mob frenzy becomes so "irrational and uncontrollable", the people have to be "vigilant" to save the basic tenets of the society.

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He also urged the intellectual class to rise and be vigilant as it could act as the biggest deterrent to forces of darkness and backwardness.

"When mob frenzy becomes so high, irrational and uncontrollable, we have to pause and reflect. Are you vigilant enough," he said at a function to celebrate 70 years of India's independence.

"I am not talking of vigilantism. I am talking about whether we are vigilant enough proactively to save the basic tenets of our time," he said.

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party vice-president Rahul Gandhi, besides a host of dignitaries, former ministers, MPs and Congress leaders were present at the event that saw the launch of a commemorative publication by National Herald.

When mob lynching becomes so high and uncontrollable, we have to pause and reflect, are we vigilant enough?: President Pranab Mukherjee pic.twitter.com/TC4Bi97WvQ
— ANI (@ANI_news) July 1, 2017

Mukherjee also said one cannot obliterate one's duty towards the issue, saying, "Posterity will demand an explanation from us about what we have done. I raise this question within myself."

The president also appealed to the media to remain constantly vigilant saying it is because of it that democracy survives.

"You must rise to preserve and ensure human dignity is maintained, slavery is kept away. You will have to maintain your vigilance," Mukherjee said. "I do believe that citizen's vigilance, intellectual vigilance and media vigilance can act as the biggest deterrent to the forces of darkness and backwardness," he said.

'Inclusive conception' of country 'under attack': Sonia

Making a veiled attack on the government, Sonia Gandhi said the "inclusive conception" of the country is "under attack" and the nation was facing a great challenge in the form "domestic misrule".

She said the press was being "pressured to obey and applaud" rather than to question and speaking the truth was the imperative of the present age.

She was speaking at a function here where President Pranab Mukherjee released a commemorative publication of the National Herald newspaper on '70 years of India's Independence'.

"The National Herald evokes a time when nationalism fought foreign rule. But domestic misrule is as great a challenge for our country," Gandhi said.

"At a time when the inclusive conception of our nation is under attack, and the press is pressured to obey and applaud rather than to question, speaking truth to power is the imperative of our age," she said.

She said the 'National Herald' newspaper, which was run by the Congress, was a reminder of "what is precious about the India which its founders fought to free".

The Congress chief called for working together "to safeguard an India in which each person's voice can be raised and heard -- most of all the voices of those who question and disagree." — PTI