The Vice President of India, M. Venkaiah Naidu has said that Peace is the prerequisite for Progress and India is on rise and entire world is looking at us. He was delivering a Lecture at the National Defence College on the theme “India’s Strategic Culture, National Core Values, Interests and Objectives”, here today.The Vice President said that the history of mankind seems to be a ceaseless struggle between the forces of war and peace, between evil and goodness, between violence and non-violence, between tolerance and hatred, between understanding and misunderstanding, between isolationism and inclusion and between conflict and coexistence. It is a continuous struggle and the State has a major role in it along with other bodies like the United Nations, he added.Saying there is also an overtone that highlights the connection between peace and progress, the Vice President said that the welfare and development of the people and the reduction in inequalities and discontent can potentially lead to a more harmonious, peaceful and less insecure society. So, what we should be addressing are the potential triggers that make our society an insecure place, he added.The Vice President said that the National Security Strategy aims at creating conditions to effectively pursue its development agenda while keeping the costs of security optimal and affordable. Our strategic security direction should encompass the following components, he said:
(a) Maintaining a deterrent capability to safeguard National Interests.
(b) Ensuring security of national territory, maritime region, including our trade routes, air space and cyber space.
(c) Maintaining a secure internal environment to guard against threats to our unity and development.
(d) Strengthening and Expanding ‘‘Constructive Engagement’’ with Nations to promote regional and global peace as also international stability.
The Vice President said that we believe that the whole world is one large family as exemplified by the oft-quoted statement: “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam”. We are a nation that has desired peace not only on earth and for human beings but for the entire universe, he said. Peaceful co-existence has been an article of faith with us and we should be proud of our country’s timeless vision that encapsulated a world view that is quite relevant even to this day, he added.The Vice President said that we are living in a world that is torn by violent thoughts, violent emotions and violent actions. He further said that to ensure security, we need to have a multi-pronged approach. Extremism, terrorism, communalism, violence against women and numerous other forms of violent behaviour need a concerted approach, he added.The Vice President said that education for peace and learning to live together is the need of the hour. He further said that education with values of empathy, compassion, tolerance and goodness embedded in the curriculum can prevent conflict and irrational violence. Community education, inter-faith understanding and evolution of societal norms that encourage harmony and zero tolerance towards violence of all kinds can provide the foundation for a secure society, he added.The Vice President said that we have been facing the problems of insurgency, left wing extremism and attempts by certain fissiparous forces to weaken the unity and integrity of the country. There is no place for violence in a democracy and India is a mature parliamentary democracy and the ballot has proved to be far more powerful than the bullet, he added.The Vice President said that terrorism is the biggest threat to humanity today and all nations need to come together to eliminate this global menace. It is time for the United Nations and the global community to act with greater force and determination in tackling the problem, he said.The Vice President said that the way forward could be to focus on inclusive development and reduce inequalities. Creating just and inclusive societies could lead to more peaceful world and this is what India is attempting through its “Sab ka Sath, Sab ka Vikas” approach, he added.Hundred senior officers from Army, Navy, Air Force, IAS, IPS and other service including senior officers from friendly neighbouring countries are attending this 47 week course. AVSM, Shri Srikanth welcomed the Vice President.