Patna: Expressing concern over attacks on places of worship in the country, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said “everybody has the freedom to pursue his religion and maintaining it is the responsibility of the state.”
“Some incidents of attack on places of worship have happened in the country, which are matters of concern. Everybody has the freedom to pursue his religion and maintaining it is the responsibility of the state,” Kumar said.
Kumar’s comment came in the backdrop of a spate of recent attacks on churches in various parts of the country and the rape of a 72-year-old nun in a convent in Nadia district of West Bengal.
“We also need to think why such incidents are happening. What is the message spread in the society due to which they are happening,” Kumar said.
The Chief Minister was speaking at a programme by Asian Development Research Institute (ADRI) in the state capital to felicitate him on the completion of 30 years of legislative career.
Kumar had won Bihar Assembly polls for the first time from Harnaut constituency in Nalanda district in March 1985.
Apparently referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre, Kumar said a broad vision was needed to run the country and any development could happen only when the environment remain peaceful.
“Forming the government is easy…but running the country is a difficult task. A broad vision is needed for it.
One can do anything only when the environment is peaceful,” Pointing out that ‘unity in diversity’ was the biggest strength of India, Kumar said that it is the fundamental responsibility of the central and state governments to maintain harmony in the society.
“If the religious faith of people comes under attack, their sentiment get hurt, it disrupts peace and harmony in the society.
Peace cannot prevail only through use of police. It is just one aspect,” he said. “If there is turmoil in the society, police will not be of much help. There will neither be the rule of law nor existence of fear in the society,” he said. (PTI)
