Maharashtra Governor C P Radhakrishnan on Tuesday expressed deep concern over reports of people being denied housing based on caste or religion, calling such discrimination “disheartening” and urging that it end immediately. Speaking at the ‘Lokmat World Peace and Harmony Through Interfaith Dialogue’ event, the governor underscored the essential role of interfaith dialogue in bridging divides and dismantling long-standing prejudices in India’s diverse society.
At the event, which also saw the presence of Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, Maharashtra minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha, and Vijay Darda, former Rajya Sabha MP and chairman of the Lokmat Media Group, Radhakrishnan stressed that every citizen must be treated with respect regardless of their cultural or religious background. “It is disheartening to hear that people are being denied housing based on caste or religion. In our multi-religious, multi-cultural society, we must teach our citizens to respect all faiths,” he said.
The governor emphasized that respect for all religions should start early, by educating children in schools and colleges to celebrate and understand diverse religious festivals.
“In the name of secularism, we are actually preventing our students from celebrating the festivals of all religions,” he noted. Radhakrishnan encouraged parents to take their children to different places of worship, asserting that such exposure would foster respect and empathy among the younger generation.
Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan echoed these sentiments, remarking that India’s rich cultural tapestry is not defined by language, skin color, or faith. “Our culture is about accountability. What goes around comes around,” he added, reminding everyone of the moral responsibility to foster an environment of inclusivity and harmony.
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Vijay Darda, present at the event, reinforced the call for a more compassionate society, stating that the focus should be on brotherhood, the welfare of the people, and the promotion of world peace through compassion and forgiveness. Darda’s remarks came at a time when public discourse has increasingly highlighted the negative impacts of exclusionary practices in society.
The issue of housing discrimination has long been a contentious one in India, with reports periodically emerging of individuals facing exclusion based on caste or religion. The governor’s remarks serve as a timely reminder that such practices are antithetical to the country’s democratic and secular values.
In a nation that prides itself on diversity and pluralism, leaders like Radhakrishnan and Arif Mohammad Khan are calling for decisive actions to ensure that every citizen—regardless of background—is given equal opportunity to access basic rights, including housing. As the dialogue on interfaith understanding continues to gain momentum, there is growing optimism that such efforts will pave the way for a more inclusive, respectful, and harmonious society.
(With inputs from PTI)
