Reduction in inequalities will create peaceful society: Vice President

New Delhi, Oct 15 (IANS) Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Monday said that reduction in inequalities will bring peace and harmony to mankind, which finds itself in a state of violence currently.

"We are living in a world that is torn by violent thoughts, violent emotions and violent actions... Extremism, terrorism, communalism, violence against women and numerous other forms of violent behaviour need a concerted approach," Naidu said in a lecture at the National Defence College here. 

He said that there was a link between peace and progress. 

"The welfare and development of people and reduction in inequalities and discontent can potentially lead to a more harmonious, peaceful and less insecure society," Naidu said. 

The Vice President remarked that mankind was engaged in a "continuous struggle" between "war and peace" and "good and evil" and said that "the state" and the United Nations have a major role to play in this fight. 

Naidu also invoked the maxim of "Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam" (the whole world is a family) to advocate peaceful co-existence among the nations of the world. 

"Peaceful co-existence has been an article of faith with us and we should be proud of our country's timeless vision that encapsulated a worldview that is quite relevant even to this day," he said. 

On insurgency in India, he said there was no place for violence in a democracy and that the "ballot has proved to be far more powerful than the bullet".