Pluralistic character of nation should not be weakened: President

PTI
AIZAWL, APRIL 10
President Pranab Mukherjee said here on Friday that the central and Delhi governments have taken action to prevent “unacceptable” incidents involving people from the northeast region.
Addressing the 10th annual convocation of Mizoram University, Mukherjee said the pluralistic character of the nation should not be weakened by such “unacceptable events”.“Some time back, the capital city of Delhi witnessed certain tragic incidents of attacks on young people from the northeast.
“Both the central and the Delhi government have taken firm action by not only apprehending and punishing the accused but also putting in place measures to ensure that such incidents do not recur,” the President said.
“We must ensure that the pluralistic character of our nation and her thread of unity…. are not weakened by such unacceptable events,” he added.
A committee, headed by retired IAS officer M.P. Bezbaruah set up by the union home ministry following some attacks against people from the northeast in Delhi, had said that over two lakh people have migrated to Delhi from the northeastern region between 2005 and 2013.
About 86 percent of them have faced some form of racial discrimination, it added.
On education, the president said that none of the Indian institutions are ranked in the top 200 positions by reputed international surveys.
“It is ironical that our higher education system, which is capable of producing world-class scholars, loses them to foreign universities. A serious scrutiny is necessary to counter this avoidable trend.”
Describing Mizoram as a storehouse of natural beauty, Mukherjee said that with an over 700 km international border with Bangladesh to its west and Myanmar to its south and east – Mizoram holds a vital strategic position.
He said it was “heartening to note” that Mizoram University was accredited ‘A’ grade by NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council) in 2014.
Acting Mizoram Governor KN Tripathi, Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla and other dignitaries were also present during the ceremony held on the Mizoram University campus.
He said that a university must strengthen its linkages with other academic institutes through faculty and student exchange programmes, participation in seminars and workshops, collaborative research and sharing of academic resources.
“The National Knowledge Network must be put to good use in these endeavours,” the president said.
He also said the issue of lack of industrial presence impeding a healthy industrial interface with central universities located in northeast India was discussed during this year’s Conference of vice-chancellors (held in February at Rashtrapati Bhavan).
Mukherjee said that the “Higher educational institution is a role model for the society. It must leverage all expertise to contribute to the socio-economic development of the region.”
He also said the central government has launched the “Swachh Bharat Mission”, aimed at a Clean India by 2019, “Digital India programme” to usher in a digitally-empowered knowledge society and “Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana” to create model villages.
“In the Conference of Vice-Chancellors, it was decided that every central university would adopt and develop at least five villages. I am confident that this university will live up to the expectations.”