India has a Tradition of Welcoming all Faiths Says PM Modi at Event in Vigyan Bhawan: Highlights

Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an event to celebrate the elevation to Sainthood for two Indians talks about religious freedom for all as a universal human right. He says that his government will act very sternly against those who incite religious violence.

Here are the highlights from his speech:

• The whole county is proud of Saint Kuriakose Elias Chavara and Saint Euphrasia
• I am very delighted to be at the event.
• The life and deeds of Saint Kuriakose Elias Chavara and Saint Euphrasia are an inspiration to humanity as a whole.
• Spiritualism is rooted in India's heritage.
• India's openness to new ideas comes from the Vedas.
• Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore had inspired us to dream of a land where the mind is without fear and the head is held high.
• The tradition of welcoming and honoring is as old as India itself.
  We believe not only in universal tolerance but we accept all religions as true. (PM Modi quotes Swami Vivekananda).
• This principle of equal respect and treatment for all faiths has been a part of India's ethos for thousands of years.
• Equal respect must be in the DNA of all Indians.
• Let me now come to the issue that is very critical.
• The world is increasingly witnessing divisions on the lines of religious differences. This has become a global concern.
• The world is at crossroads, which if not crossed properly, can throw us back to the dark ages.
• The ancient Indian plea of mutual respect for all faiths is now beginning to manifest in global discourse
• My government will not allow any religious group, majority and minority, to incite hatred against others overtly or covertly.
• We can not accept violence against any religious group. Our government will act very strongly to any such incident. I strongly condemn violence.
• Everyone has the undeniable right to retain or adopt the religion of his or her choice without coercion or undue influence.