Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday called upon the people to reflect on how to work together and contribute in arresting “disturbing trends” of intolerance, communal polarisation and incidents of violent crimes propelled by hate groups and mobs being witnessed in the country. He was addressing the Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavana Award function in the national Capital. On this occasion, former West Bengal Governor Gopal Krishna Gandh, a grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, was conferred with the 24th Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavna Award. The award carries a citation and a cash award of Rs 10 lakh.

Speaking at the function, the former PM said that such “unsavoury” trends can only harm national interests and are an anathema to the promotion of peace and communal harmony.

Singh, along with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and former Union Minister Karan Singh, who is the chairman of the advisory board of Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavana award trust, were among those present.

Talking about the present climate in the country, Sonia Gandhi called for collectively expressing the resolve “to fight the forces of divisiveness, hate and bigotry”.  She said he has been an uncompromising champion of values enshrined in our Constitution which are now under “determined and systematic assault”. The Congress leader said, “Rajiv Gandhi was an unwavering believer that India’s unity was actually derived from and strengthened by her incredible diversity. That is what Sadbhavna meant to him -- not just acceptance of, not just respect for, but most fundamentally a celebration of our society’s many diversities.”

Earlier, addressing the gathering, Manmohan Singh said the function was a celebration of Rajiv Gandhi’s outstanding contribution to promotion of peace, national integration and communal harmony and also a solemn occasion to pay homage to Rajiv Gandhi, whose memory shall be cherished.

He said Rajiv Gandhi worked for the values of a broad secular outlook, the spirit of tolerance, commitment to communal harmony and empathy to others all his life.

The former prime minister also noted that the homage to Rajiv Gandhi should also be marked by a reaffirmation of one’s commitment to abide by these core values.

“Another cause for solemn reflection today is some disturbing trends that our country has been witnessing over the past few years.  “Those unsavoury trends of growing intolerance, communal polarization, growing incidence of violent crimes propelled by hatred of certain groups and of mobs taking the law in their own hands can only harm the national interests of our country,” he said

The former prime minister said they are also an anathema for promotion of peace, national integration and communal harmony, which are the cherished objectives enshrined in the Constitution.

“All of us need to pause and reflect on how we can work together and contribute to arresting these trends,” he said.