Chennai: “Politics and religion will ruin the nation if they are mixed together,” said Prince of Arcot, Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali, who presided an interfaith celebration to commemorate the 549th birth anniversary of Shri Guru Nanak Dev organised by Developers India here Thursday.
“India is a secular country which has the largest number of religions, languages, cultures, traditions, and practices. Communal harmony amongst them is to be maintained by fellow citizens at all times,” he said.
He urged everyone to keep in mind that religion is a personal business and once people step out of their houses, we are all Indians.
The Prince of Arcot warned that today, the forces of pseudo-nationalism that are parading themselves as patriots, are mobilising to destroy secularism, communal harmony and national unity in the country.
“They openly repudiate our Constitution, the rule of law and the goal of modern civilised nationhood, which inspired our glorious freedom struggle. India today is a diverse and pluralistic society, and we are part of humanity with all its rich diversity, which is the essence of our unity in diversity,” he pointed out.
Minister for Tamil Language and Culture K Pandiarajan was the chief guest. He conferred the Developers India’s Vibrant Indian Award to singer Aruna Sairam. Founder-secretary and convenor of Developers India Harbhajan Singh, businessman Nalli Kuppuswami Chetti, Principal Secretary to Tamilnadu Government Harmander Singh, Vice Consulate General of Russia Gennadil A Rogalev, Chancellor of Archdiocesan of Madras-Mylapore Reverrand Father KJ Varghese Rozario were guests of honour.