NEW DELHI: Describing himself as a product of the ancient Indian tradition that believes in dialogue on difficult issues, PM Modi said this was the only means to cut through deep-rooted religious stereotypes and prejudices dividing communities.Addressing a "global Hindu-Buddhist" initiative on conflict avoidance, the Prime Minister said only dialogue could overcome the divides between communities that sow seeds of conflict between nations and societies. The remarks also come at a time when BJP and its critics are trading charges of majoritarianism and selective outrage.The public space has seen BJP and RSS launch a counter-offensive, claiming Left's state sponsored violence against its cadres and alleged that the Trinamool Congress has similarly targeted saffron leaders. The debates over nationalism and proposals for a tank and war museum at JNU have proved equally divisive.In a more encouraging development, BJP-RSS and CPM functionaries held a meeting at Kannur -a particularly violent hotspot of political violence in Kerala -to try and curb the brutal political attacks.The PM posed three questions for his audience: How to avoid conflict?How to address a global challenge like climate change? How to live in peace and harmony and secure our lives?Elaborating the Indian traditions he spoke of, the PM said the concept of "tarka shashtra (logic and dialectics)" is founded on dialogue and debate as the model for exchange of views and avoidance of conflict. Environmental laws, though necessary, are a poor substitute for a harmonious environmental consciousness.

Source: Times of India August 06, 2017 00:45 UTC