New Delhi: Asserting that mankind has been numbed by the daily news of violence across the globe, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on July 9 asked world governments to adopt the "culture of dialogue" at home to resolve contentious issues amicably through talks.

Inaugurating an international conference on 'Dialogue among Civilisations' in New Delhi, he also asked the world community to accept India's principle of secularism to establish a violence-free environment and ensure sustainable development.

"I suggest that this principle of secularism, which is enshrined in India's Constitution, should be accepted by all countries. Tolerance should become a global ideal. This would go a long way in promoting understanding, co-operation and peace among peoples belonging to different faiths and cultures," he said.

Emphasising that the "culture of dialogue should begin at the national level" to resolve contentious issues through talks, Vajpayee said, "The more a nation can harmonise differences at home, the greater will be its ability to contribute to a dialogue at the international level."

PTI