Prince of Arcot Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali has appealed to all citizens to safeguard peace, harmony, tolerance and secularism and to defend democratic values and the Rule of Law.
In his keynote address, at the Universal Brotherhood Day Celebrations, the Prince recalled Swami Vivekananda’s message of Universal Brotherhood.
The event was organised by Freemasonry, a social organisation, under the aegis of Regional Grand Lodge of Southern India, in the city on Monday.
He said that there were some extremist elements, whose aim was to promote narrow sectarianism at the cost of India’s multi-religious and multi-cultural identity.
“It is the duty of every citizen to isolate such elements and not fall prey to the divisive agenda.” he said.
Referring to various conflicts that the world faced, he said that the long history of tolerance and compassion should prevail for a better tomorrow. Religion should not be a means to an end, he said, referring to the religious fundamentalism in the world.
“Some elements among the ones who hold power, seem to take special interest in causing disturbance and spreading bigotry and prejudice against one particular religion and its followers,” the Nawab said.
“We all should strongly condemn the menace of terrorism and corruption in our country, at every level to protect and save the secular and democratic nature of our great country India,” he added.
Sudhir Ahuja, secretary, Arya Samaj, Central Chennai, and Dr R Daniel Premkumar, Director, Synod Diaconal Concerns, Church of South India, spoke on the occasion.
Earlier, V Arulappan, ARGM from Freemasonry, welcomed the gathering, while N Ganesh, ARGM, proposed a vote of thanks.