New Delhi: The Congress-led Government at the Centre today (Jun 7, 2004) pledged itself to preserving, protecting and promoting secular values and enforcing the law without fear or favour to deal with all obscurantist and fundamentalist elements that seek to disturb social amity and peace.

"It is a matter of serious concern that forces of communalism have been able to vitiate the atmosphere in the country leading to outbreak of riots, the most gruesome face of which was witnessed recently in Gujarat. My Government is determined to combat such forces," said President A P J Abdul Kalam in his address to first session of both Houses of Parliament after the elections to the 14th Lok Sabha.

In the first major policy statement of the Government touching on various issues, Kalam said the first general elections of this millennium reflects the firm conviction of the people in the democratic process of change.

"The outcome of these elections is indicative of people's yearning for inclusiveness economic, social and cultural and their rejection of the forces of divisiveness and intolerance.

"The verdict is for establishing the rule of law and repairing our secular fabric. This Government is committed to providing the right ambience for fulfilling the aspirations implicit in the people's mandate," he said.