Church calls for an India free of hunger and greed on R-Day

As India celebrates its 62nd Republic day on January 26, the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) urged the country's citizens to remember the democratic traditions that uphold the philosophy and principles of Indian secularism and revive the commitment to uphold the sanctity of the Indian Constitution.

The apex body of the Protestant and Orthodox churches in India, emphasized on the need to "reverberate with vigour the bold vision of an India that is free of hunger, greed, and violence" and "to renew afresh the commitment to be of service to each other in the common interest of all peoples of this country".

While praising the country for its successes in various fields, the NCCI also brought to notice the brazen unequal growth regimes, manifest gender insensitivities, and blatant human rights violations.

"The Nation is still to cope with the situations arising out of right wing politics, and the minority bashing – both with regard to religious and linguistic minorities and in terms of historically disadvantaged and socially alienated peoples as the dalits and adivasis," the Council representing 13 million Christians said.

Meanwhile, President Pratibha Devisingh Patil, Vice-President Mohammad Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other top leaders were in attendance in New Delhi's elaborate Republic Day celebrations today. Indonesian President Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono was the chief guest at the function to mark the day.

Addressing the nation on the eve of Republic Day, President Patil highlighted the rising prices, corruption and dangers to Indian democracy as the most important challenges before India.

"The strength of a nation is not determined by the challenges it faces, but by its responses to these challenges, especially so when it stands at a critical juncture and at a decisive point," she said.

In his message, Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari said that since the people of India resolved to constitute India into a Republic, we have achieved many successes and have had our moments of glory.

"However, the country has not been able to fully realize the vision of its founding fathers. Millions of our fellow citizens suffer from poverty, hunger, disease and illiteracy," he observed

Ansari appealed to the people to remain firm in commitment towards the founding principles of our republic of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity and collectively face the challenges ahead.