PANAJI: The idea of the nation built around religion or the flow of single thought is bound, said Goa Governor PS Sreedharan Pillai on Tuesday.
Reflecting the 1971 War which led to the creation of Bangladesh, Pillai asked students and Indians to study the factors that lead to war, and urge the Indian people to put aside their religion and unite.
Pillai was named India-Pakistani conflict in 1971 as “the biggest achievement of India in the war”, and said that the Indian armed forces made a permanent contribution to peace, democracy and human rights by defeating Pakistan and releasing Bangladesh.
“Bangladesh War 1971, in my opinion, is because of the false concept of a country based on religion in a particular flow of thought.
It will never exist,” said Pillai, speaking at Azad Maidan to commemorate Swarnim Vijay Varsh, ‘Jubilee Golden’ victory over Pakistan in the year 1971.
“This is a problem to think about even now, it is relevant to think of pros and cons.
I emphasize this …
our concept is that all religions born in the world are welcomed by us.
There is no persecution,” said Pillai.
“Students now and other people have to study the background of the Bangladesh war.” While emphasizing Indian secular credentials, Pillai showed that Mahatma Gandhi and several other people who struggled for independence standing for united India which were not divided by religion.
“Then one group of people, I did not mention the name, they stated that no, religion was the basis for a country, so we want a separate country.
As a historical student, I wonder if people migrate from India – Goa, Kerala , Maharashtra – who went to Karachi and Dhaka, was accepted as a citizen who was right from the country, “Pillai said.
Several 1971 war verections were detained at Azad Maidan by Pillai and Head of Minister of Pramod Sawant.
“We are proud to be able to say that our country’s biggest achievement in the field of war is the victory in 1971.
The aim is a permanent contribution to peace, democracy and human rights for the world,” he said.
The nation based on religion is the wrong concept, there cannot exist, said the Governor of Goa
