Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said widespread use of social media , is creating falsehoods aimed at fostering hatred and enmity . ``Sadly, many who fall for such propaganada do not even bother to ascertain the facts. It is worrying that we, who ought to develop a scientific temper and the spirit of inquiry, fall prey to such devious designs,’’ he said.

While vested interests try to weaken our democracy through such orchestrated campaigns, I believe that it is the duty of all of us who have assumed office having sworn allegiance to the Indian constitution, to protect democracy and strengthen secularism. Only then can we ensure that freedom prevails. I hope this 'Festival on Democracy' will awaken a new sense of guardianship among us, with regard to safeguarding our constitution and our democracy said chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan while speaking at the inauguration of the festival of democracy a conclave organised as part of the diamond jubilee celebrations of the Kerala Assembly.

ndian democracy sustains itself on the foundation of secularism. In the Indian context, without secularism, there is no democracy. And, without democracy, there is no freedom. The founding fathers of the Indian Republic had a clear idea of what we, as a nascent and modern nation ought to be. And, they enshrined it in the preamble of our Constitution, leaving no room for doubt.

India was imagined as a sovereign, democratic, republic by the architects of our constitution. At a time when the values of secularism and socialism came under severe threat, we the people of India pledged to ourselves that we will be secular and socialist, by adding those qualities to the Indian Republic, in our preamble. If any of those values cease to exist, India will cease to exist.

``We have a glorious tradition of imbibing different languages and cultures from around the world, and we were receptive to all streams of thought. That is how, our cherished ideal of 'unity in diversity' emerged. It is that ideal, which makes Indian democracy flourish,’’ said the chief minister.

In this era of 'post truth politics', we ought to examine how our democracy is being affected, by such tendencies which seek to subdue facts by misusing emotions. Especially, with the widespread use of social media, he added.

