President of India Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday emphasised that the country prides on its pluralistic ideals and reiterated that India was “an oasis of peaceful co-existence” and “communal harmony”.

Speaking a the closing ceremony of the bicentenary celebrations of Diocese of Calcutta, Church of North India, Mukherjee maintained that several major religions have thrived in India due to its “assimilative capacity”.

“India prides itself in is pluralistic ideas. In India, several major religions have thrived due to its assimilative capacity that has come to define our civilisation over the century,” he said during his speech.

“It is this mosaic of being multi religious, that makes our nation an oasis of peaceful co-existence and communal harmony,” the President added.

He also pointed out that every religion preaches the fundamental values of humanity – that include forbearance, respect and acceptance of different views that form as the core principles.

According to the President, it is an unique experience to have under one system, administration and Constitution the entire gamut of 130 crore people who speak 100 different languages across 1,600 different dialects, every day.

“It is an unique experience to have…. three major ethnic groups having substantial presence –living under one system; one flag; one Constitution; one administration; one jurisprudence,” Mukherjee said adding that the fabric of our society would remain strong when every individual “irrespective of caste, creed, language, region and religion” can partake in its progress without fear and prejudice.

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