BackIs tolerance waning in India, asks President Mukherjee
The president's strong words come against the backdrop of a series of incidents all over the nation
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Birbhum: Amid a wave of rising intolerance, president Pranab Mukherjee on Monday expressed serious apprehensions that the tolerance and acceptance of dissent are on the wane in the country. “Humanism and pluralism should not be abandoned under any circumstance. Assimilation through receiving is a characteristic of Indian society. Our collective strength must be harnessed to resist evil powers in society," Mukherjee said.
Addressing a gathering organised by Nayaprajanma, a local weekly newspaper in the southern district of West Bengal, he expressed concern about “whether tolerance and acceptance of dissent are on the wane?" He reminded the audience of the teachings of Ramakrishna Paramhansa “Jato Mat Tato Path" (As there are a number of beliefs, there are a number of ways).
“Indian civilisation has survived for 5000 years because of its tolerance. It has always accepted dissent and differences. A large number of languages, 1600 dialects and 7 religions coexist in India. We have a constitution that accommodates all these differences," the President said. The president’s strong words come against the backdrop of a series of hate incidents like the cancellation of a music concert by Pakistani legend Ghulam Ali in Mumbai, suspension of talks between Indian and Pakistani cricket board chiefs and blackening the face of Sudheendra Kulkarni.
The President’s strong condemnation came on the day when an independent MLA from Jammu and Kashmir, Sheikh Abdul Rashid became the target of a fringe hindu outfit which threw ink and motor engine oil on him at the Press club in Delhi, protesting against the beef party he held in Srinagar earlier this month. He was also beaten up in the state assembly by BJP MLAs.
Greeting people on the eve of Durga Puja celebrations, Mukherjee expressed the hope that “Mahamaya - the combination of all positive forces would eliminate the Asuras or divisive forces." Less than a fortnight ago, the president made a strong appeal for maintaining tolerance and plurality in the country, against the backdrop of Dadri lynching.
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