To keep India united, celebrate its diversity: Prez

To keep India united, people must celebrate its diversity, President Pranab Mukherjee said on Monday. Terming 190 years of British rule as "dark chapter", the President said people of the country need to fight another take home battle against communalism and all sort of prejudices.

"If today India is an emerging developing economy, having highest growth among the emerging economies of the world, it is because of the toils of Indian farmers, workers in factory, farmers in field, scientists in the laboratory and people of India," he said at a felicitation ceremony here to honour the freedom fighters.

The President said 190 years of British rule left a very dark chapter which is described by the students of history as the drainage of resources from India. "Therefore, as we had to fight against the colonial exploitation, sufferings and miseries, another take home battle also we have to fight against communalism, sectarianism, culturalism and all sorts of prejudices and obscurity.