Country's secular fabric in danger: Meira Kumar

Opposition nominee Meira Kumar today said she is contesting the presidential poll to fight against an ideology that has endangered the secular fabric of the country.
Kumar, who was in the Congress-ruled state to campaign for the July-17 presidential elections, said her fight was against a thinking that "has challenged communal harmony, social justice, inclusiveness, transparency and all that we have been standing for and held dear."
Seeking support of legislators here, the former Lok Sabha speaker said, "This is the chance we have to make history and act in the best interest of our country for its progress and modernity and also for our next generation."

"The need (to contest the presidential poll) has arisen because the atmosphere in the country has begun to threaten the secular fabric of the country," Kumar said here while addressing the MLAs of the state.
Stating that India is a vast country with so many religions, ethnic groups, cultures and many ways of living in harmony, Kumar said, "Those in power should be able to always promote this harmony and not disrupt it."
She said she was grateful to the 17 opposition parties that, despite political differences, were backing her against ruling NDA nominee Ram Nath Kovind in the election.

"There is a definite move in the country to communalise people in the name of what one should eat, what one should see, how one should live", Kumar said.

In an indirect attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kumar said she failed to understand why NDA leaders, despite their "tremendous majority in Parliament and given their hold in the government", were "only talking and trying to distance themselves (from this issue) and no action is seen on the ground."
Appealing to the MLAs to listen to their inner voice, she said, "The inner voice of conscience carries more weight than numbers when people decide on moral ground and on grounds of principles and ethics and philosophy."

Besides Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, Leader of Opposition Donkupar Roy was present at the meeting.
Kumar thanked Roy, president of the United Democratic Party with eight MLAs, for his support.
"It is encouraging to find the Leader of Opposition with us. I am grateful the House is with us. People are with us and with our ideology that we are following," she said.
NDA-ally National People's Party (having two MLAs) and Hills State People's Democratic Party (with four MLAs) did not attend Kumar's address.