Vice president urges NCC cadets to protect India's pluralism

New Delhi, Jan 8 (IANS) Vice President M. Hamid Ansari Thursday urged NCC cadets to protect and promote pluralism in Indian society which has given a unique, composite national identity that is a source of envy for the rest of the world.

Inaugurating the NCC Republic Day Camp-2015, the vice president said the National Cadet Corps sets a shining example of national integration and communal harmony.

"Every society has fault lines based on social, economic and political differences and we are no exception. We are still facing challenges of poverty and underdevelopment on one hand and communalism, casteism, linguistic and regional chauvinism on the other," Ansari said.

"The duty of a good citizen is to remain true to the constitutional principles of liberty, equality, fraternity and justice for all," he said.

The vice president urged the NCC cadets to avail the best of NCC training and be more responsible and empowered citizens of the country.

A contingent of NCC cadets drawn from all the three wings - army, navy and air force - presented a "Guard of Honour" to the vice president on his arrival at the camp.