'There should be no room in India for the intolerant Indian'

March 02, 2017 19:37

President Pranab Mukherjee has broken his silence over the raging debate of nationalism and the violence being witnessed on college campuses.

Taking to his Twitter account, the president wrote, "Those in Universities must engage in reasoned discussion and debate rather than propagate a culture of unrest. It is tragic to see them caught in the vortex of violence and disquiet."

Raising the issue of tolerance in the country, President Mukherjee said, "There should be no room in India for the intolerant Indian."

"India has been since ancient times a bastion of free thought, speech and expression. Our society has always been characterised by the open contestation of diverse schools of thought & debate/discussion. Freedom of speech and expression is one of the most important fundamental rights guaranteed by our Constitution."

Adding further, he wrote that there should be space for legitimate criticism and dissent.

The president further wrote, what could be a response to the threats Gurmehar Kaur, received for her anti-ABVP stand. "I do not consider a society or State to be civilised if its citizens behaviour towards women is uncivilised. When we brutalize a woman, we wound the soul of our civilisation. The acid test of any society is its attitude towards women and children."

President Mukherjee wrote, "The time has come for collective efforts to re-discover the sense of national purpose and patriotism. Sense of national purpose and patriotism alone can lift our nation on to the road of sustained progress and prosperity. The nation and the people must always come first."

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