Sri Vijaya Puram, October 25: Lieutenant Governor Dr Dinesh Sharma on Saturday called for preserving the Andaman and Nicobar Islands’ tradition of communal harmony and cultural inclusiveness, urging residents from different linguistic and religious communities to participate in one another’s festivals and keep divisions based on religion, caste and language out of the islands.
Addressing a gathering at Vrindavan village on October 24, Dr Sharma said the islands’ diversity should remain a source of unity, with people from different backgrounds living together without discrimination.
“There should be no discrimination based on caste, religion or language in Andaman. People from every community should feel equally respected. We must not allow such divisions to emerge here,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor said he was willing to visit places of worship belonging to different faiths, including gurudwaras, mosques, churches and temples, emphasising that religion should promote unity rather than division.
He also reiterated his position on language, encouraging residents to respect regional languages while maintaining a connection with Hindi, which he described as the country’s official language.
LG Proposes Raas Leela Programme in Vrindavan, Calls for Communal Harmony
Lieutenant Governor Dr Dinesh Sharma proposed organising a Raas Leela programme in Vrindavan village, while calling for communal harmony and encouraging people from different religious and linguistic communities to participate in one another’s festivals.
He also suggested celebrating Garba during Durga Ashtami on the same stage, while welcoming celebrations of Eid, Christmas and other festivals as opportunities to strengthen unity among communities.
“On Janmashtami, raas leela programme should be organised here. When Durga Ashtami comes, you should also organise a Garba programme on this stage,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor stressed that celebrations of Eid, Christmas and other festivals should also be welcomed, encouraging people to attend events organised by communities other than their own.
Referring to upcoming festivals, he urged people from Bihar and Jharkhand to participate in regional celebrations such as Makar Sankranti and Chhath Puja, while encouraging communities to invite residents from other parts of the country to join their festivities.
“We should participate in one another’s festivals. This is the need of the hour,” he said.
Calls for cooperation beyond political affiliations
The Lieutenant Governor also praised the local representatives and community members for bringing people together for the programme. He acknowledged the coordination between Member of Parliament Bishnu Pada Ray, the village Pradhan, Panchayat representatives and other local leaders.
Dr Sharma said cooperation for development should extend beyond political affiliations, adding that elected representatives and political groups should work together on local priorities after elections.
“During elections, people may work for their respective parties. But after elections, there should be only one party — the party of development,” he said.
He urged the District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police to maintain close supervision of the area and ensure that local concerns received attention. He also referred to his earlier commitment to identify land for a sports ground in Vrindavan and asked the administration to follow up on the proposed facilities for children.
Janata Darshan to provide a channel for public grievances
Dr Sharma reiterated that the next Janata Darshan would be held on October 30 at 10 am, with residents encouraged to register online and submit applications outlining their grievances.
He said the online process was intended to manage participation and ensure that applications could be reviewed systematically before the public interaction.
The Lieutenant Governor said officials would be present during the programme and that residents would have opportunities to raise important concerns, although it might not be possible for every applicant to speak individually.
He said the administration would examine each application and attempt to address as many issues as possible within its authority.
Dr Sharma also stressed that public office should not create a divide between people based on their economic or social position, saying every individual deserved respect.
Concluding his address, he thanked the residents for their participation and extended greetings ahead of the festive season, including Diwali and other celebrations.
His remarks placed cultural inclusion, community participation and cooperation across political and religious lines at the centre of his message during the Vrindavan visit.
