In an apparent reference to the riots of 2002 in Gujarat, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said on Thursday India cannot be built as a strong nation if institutions of governance discriminate against sections of the society.
"This country will hold together only if we give everyone in India a stake in the future of India... We cannot build an inclusive society, unless every institution of governance consciously sheds its biases and prejudices that work for every section of the people," Chidambaram said at the Entrepreneurial Summit in New Delhi.
"There were riots in a city in one of the states of India a few years ago. We found to our great dismay that people on two-wheelers, in cars, joining other looters to loot shops. Why would anyone who owns a car or a two-wheeler join looters to loot shops," he said.
Each one of us must be conscious that we are born with biases and prejudices, which show up at the most unexpected times, he said.
The finance minister said most institutions have an in-built
The Sachar Committee has brought out that muslims are clearly a disadvantaged group. "So are dalits, so are scheduled tribes," he added.
Chidambaram did not take the name of Gujarat directly in his speech.
Pointing out the difference between spurring economic growth and building an inclusive society, Chidambaram said, "We can build a giant economy, but that will be divided and strife-torn, if vast sections feel alienated, or discriminated or neglected or exploited."
India cannot be built as a strong nation unless every countryman has a stake in its future. The Supreme Court, the Parliament, ministers, government departments, independent institutions, even non-governmental organisations must shed biases and prejudices and work for all Indians, the finance minister said.
© 2025