Violence in the name faith—be it communal, political ideology, commitment to an individual or tradition—will not be tolerated, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his monthly radio broadcast on Sunday.

Without making any mention of the ongoing violence by followers of Dera Saccha Sauda in Haryana, the Prime Minister said, “I want to assure the people of the country that those who take law into their hands, be it an individual or community, will not be tolerated by either by the country or by any government,” adding, “law will take its course and the guilty will be punished.”

“India is a diverse nation. Unity in diversity is our strength. Our diverse culture is not limited to the food we eat or the clothes we wear, or the way we live...One can see a unique way of life in every nook and corner of India. Even our festivals and the different ways we celebrate it are something to cherish,” he said.

Expressing concern over violence at the time of festivities such as Ganesh Chaturthi, Onam and Eid–ul–Zuha, Modi said India has festivals almost through the year, which have become a tourist attraction as well. However, he called upon the people to link festivities with cleanliness and eco-friendly measures.

“The coverage of toilets in the country has risen from 39 per cent to 57 per cent and over two lakh villages are now open defecation free,” he said, urging people to join in the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in large numbers.

Replying to a query by a Harvard University researcher— who is ​from Mumbai—on the progress of Jan Dhana Yojana, the Prime Minister said the scheme had become a topic of international discussion.

“Tomorrow, on August 28, the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana will complete three years. Thirty crore bank accounts have been opened under the Yojana. This is more than the combined population of many countries,” the Prime Minister said, adding that “this saving for the poor will become a cause of strength for them in the future.”

“I met some bankers recently. They have done a survey showing how ordinary people have benefited from Jan Dhan, Rupay card, Atal Pension Yojana, MUDRA etc,” he said, adding that he will ask bankers to upload their findings on the website mygov.in so that people can see for themselves how these schemes can transform the lives of the ordinary people.

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