Last Saturday we had appreciated the maturity shown by the people of Jammu and their tolerance to absorb two unfortunate incidents which could have provoked the religious passion and snowballed into severe communal tension.
The social media has been debating on a possible conspiracy angle behind these two incidents. The issue was also echoed in the Jammu Kashmir Legislative Assembly and Speaker has asked the government to conduct a thorough probe and find out whether there is some hidden hand behind these incidents.
While the credit goes to the members of both the communities to prevent the possible misadventure the administration has also woken up to realize to establish the contacts with the people and sought their cooperation in subsiding the situation.
With situation calmed down, it does not absolve the administration to clear the clouds of suspicion among the people about possible sabotage as miscreants, at the behest of enemies of peace, are always on prowl to take advantage of peaceful environment prevalent in Jammu.
Jammu region has traditions of communal harmony where various communities and sects have been living together peacefully for many decades. It has welcomed and absorbed people hailing from different strata and backgrounds within its social milieu providing ample opportunities. Minor disturbances do occur sometimes which by and large get faded with assertion of saner element in the society.
If we have respect for the faith and beliefs of other people, we can certainly ensure communal harmony. We should always try to promote harmony and spirit of brotherhood among all citizens transcending our religious, linguistic or sectional diversities. Sometimes a minor innocuous incident arouses communal passions and provokes rioting and causes widespread bloodshed. The saner sections of society should guard against such a situation. All evil forces trying to destroy this harmony should be crushed at any cost.
The district administration has taken some initiative to establish direct chord with the civil society and the media of Jammu. Its launching a Whatsapp group with the members of media to keep journalists abreast of latest information on various events and developments is appreciable. It will also help contain the rumors and gossip mills to spread disinformation and hatred.
The people need some awakening and joint efforts by enlightened people of all communities, as peace is good for all and strife is harmful to everybody. Such communal misadventures always sow the real seeds of communal disharmony. But, we should all consider ourselves Indian first and last.
We must understand that India is constitutionally a secular country where people of all religions, castes and creeds can live enjoying equal rights and opportunities for progress and have the same stake in the welfare of the nation.
Let us all forget our petty religious differences, if any and live like brothers and celebrate jointly each other's festivals and respect the religious sentiments of all communities and pave ways to make Jammu a role model for others to follow.
Even if people worship God (or gods) in different ways, yet they should try to realize the underlying spirit in each religion and that is to serve mankind which is basically one.
