Prez, RBI Guv, Mamata speak out against growing intolerance

A host of leaders and eminent personalities on Saturday joined the debate on growing intolerance in the country, beginning with President Pranab Mukherjee who once again emphasised on the preservation of the multiplicity and pluralistic character of India, adding that it has thrived due to its power of assimilation and tolerance.

Similar thoughts were echoed by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor Raghuram Rajan and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday, expressing support for the President’s views on unity in diversity.

The President, who had on a number of occasions spoken against growing intolerance in the last three weeks, was speaking at the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the Delhi high court here.

“Our country has thrived due to its power of assimilation and tolerance. Our pluralistic character has stood the test of time. Our ancient civilisation has over the centuries accommodated our diversities.

“Multiplicity is our collective strength, which must be preserved at all costs. It finds reflection in the various provisions of our Constitution,” Mukherjee said at the function, which was attended by Chief Justice of India H L Dattu, Chief Justice of Delhi High Court G Rohini, Delhi LG Najeeb Jung and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Joining the debate on growing intolerance, Rajan on Saturday said tolerance and mutual respect was necessary to improve the environment for ideas and physical harm or verbal contempt for any particular group should not be allowed. The RBI Governor made the remarks during the convocation ceremony of IIT-Delhi.

The Trinamool supremo, on the other hand, tweeted: “Saddened that there is so much intolerance today. Why so much divide and rule? Let us speak for unity, stand for unity. Let us act for unity.”

“Respectfully & completely agree with the sentiments expressed by Rashtrapati ji today (Saturday) on unity in diversity and tolerance @RashtrapatiBhvn,” Banerjee said.

A host of other important personalities including music maestro Zubin Mehta and Infosys founder N R Narayana Murthy spoke against “ostracising” writers and authors that would amount to cultural dictatorship and generate “considerable fear” among the minorities in India.