Ampati, Aug. 18: Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma on Friday led the gathering at Ampati in taking the pledge to promote emotional oneness and harmony among all citizens on the occasion of Sadbhavana Divas, 2017 which marks the 73th birth anniversary of Late Rajiv Gandhi the former Prime Minister of India.

It may be mentioned that Sadbhavana Divas is observed every year on 20^th August to promote national integrity, love, affection and communal harmony among the citizens of India, but since it falls on Sunday this year the day is being observed on August 18 across the country.

Addressing the gathering before administering the pledge, the Chief Minister fondly recalled the Late Rajiv Gandhi’s visions of making India a developed country while at the same time promoting goodwill and harmony among the people. In a country like India where we have different social spectrum, there is bound to be conflict if one community have self-centric aspirations without regarding the aspirations of other communities, he said, adding that the scars and pain of a conflict take a long time to heal. Stating that the beauty of diverse country like India lies in its spirit of inclusiveness, the Chief Minister said as global citizens living in a global community we should follow acceptable global norms while pursuing collective or individual aspirations and stressed the need to overcome the barriers of religion, caste, language and belief in the

South West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner CVD Diengdoh, officials of the district administration and other district officials  and citizens from the district joined in taking the Sadbhavana pledge.