‘We Are All Indians’: Haryana Cabinet Minister Vipul Goel Calls for Unity Beyond Faith, Caste

Faridabad: Haryana Cabinet Minister Vipul Goel said that people may follow different religious practices, speak different languages and have diverse traditions and ways of life, but their national identity remains the same — they are all Indians. He said India’s diversity is its greatest strength and the spirit of ‘Rashtra Pratham’ (Nation First) binds this diversity together. Vipul Goel was speaking as the chief guest at the ‘Rashtra Pratham Samvad’ held at the Swami Vivekananda Auditorium of J.C. Bose University of Science and Technology, YMCA, Faridabad. The programme was organised jointly by the Vande Sardar Ekta Padyatra Organising Committee and Sashakt Yuva Foundation to mark the 500th sacrifice anniversary year of Raja Hasan Khan Mewati.

The Cabinet Minister urged young people to draw inspiration from national heroes and contribute to nation-building through education, service, discipline and innovation. He said initiatives such as ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’, ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas’ and the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’ under Prime Minister Narendra Modi were strengthening the spirit of ‘Rashtra Pratham’. Special Duty (OSD) to CM of Haryana, Nayab Singh Saini, Dr. Raj Nehru who addressed the gathering as a special guest, said a nation was not merely a piece of land but represented its culture, civilisation, history, Constitution and the collective consciousness of millions of citizens. He called upon people to perform their duties while keeping national interest above all else. Shyam Sundar, patron of the Mewat Study Centre, spoke about the region’s shared cultural heritage and said Indian cultural traditions continued to have a deep influence on Mewat’s social practices.

He noted that despite changes in religious identities over time, several traditional customs, including ‘Bhaat’ and ‘Chaak Puja’, continue to be observed, reflecting the region’s syncretic culture and shared heritage. Presiding over the programme, Mufti Mustajabuddin Mazahiri said India had provided its citizens with identity, rights and opportunities to progress, making it their responsibility to fulfil their duties towards the nation.

He cautioned against casteism, communalism, regionalism and extremism, saying such tendencies could weaken national unity. Former member of the Maulana Azad Education Foundation, Government of India, Ali Raza Zaidi, also spoke on the importance of national unity, social harmony and education.

Chief Minister’s Media Coordinator Mukesh Vashisht said Raja Hasan Khan Mewati was an enduring symbol of the ‘Nation First’ spirit. He said the ruler chose to sacrifice his life for the defence of his motherland rather than bow before a foreign invader, conveying the message that the defence of the country rises above religion, caste and region. During the event, a special video on the life, valour and sacrifice of Raja Hasan Khan Mewati was released and screened. A special souvenir titled ‘Rashtra Pratham’ was also released. The programme was coordinated by Kamal Hussain, who proposed the vote of thanks, while Ram Bhardwaj conducted the proceedings. Several educationists, social workers, public representatives and prominent citizens attended the event.