Chennai, Nov 3: Speaking at ‘Foundation Day Celebration of various States and Union Territories of India,’ organised by the Governor of Tamil Nadu, R N Ravi, at Raj Bhavan as part of the ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharath,’ programme, the Prince of Arcot, Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali, who was the guest of honour said ‘India is One, Indians are One,’ and he appealed to all fellow citizens to safeguard peace, harmony, tolerance and secularism and to defend democratic values, the Constitution and the Rule of Law.
India is a secular State, not a theocracy. India today is a diverse and pluralistic society: muti-ethnic, multi-linguistic, multi-religious and muti-cutural. That is its great strength and it must be preserved at all times, the Prince said. He also said, we are part of humanity with all its rich diversity of religions, languages, cultures, traditions and experience and India forms a large microcosm of the contemporary world.
He called upon all fellow citizens to join hands and stand up for peace and communal amity, secularism, fraternity and human solidarity. Let us build a strong, united, democratic, just and prosperous India.
Many eminent people from various States and Union Territories spoke of the occasion.
The Governor presented a shawl and a memento to the Prince for achieving excellence in social service and philanthropist.
He thanked the Governor for his kindness and thoughtfulness in inviting him to speak on the occasion.