No room in the country for the ‘intolerant Indian’, says President Pranab Mukherjee

 

Advocating free thinking in university campuses, President Pranab Mukherjee said students and faculties must engage in "reasoned discussion and debate rather than propagating a culture of unrest". It was tragic, he said, to see students caught in the vortex of violence and disquiet.

 

His comments come in the backdrop of the ongoing tussle between Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-affiliate Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and Left-backed All India Students’ Association (AISA) supporters in the Delhi University and a raging debate over free speech and nationalism following recent tweets of one of the varsity's students Gurmehar Kaur.

 

Freedom of speech and expression is one of the most important fundamental rights guaranteed by our Constitution. There must be space for legitimate criticism and dissent

 

“Our premier institutions of higher education are the vehicles on which India has to propel itself into a knowledge society. These temples of learning must resound with creativity and free thinking,” the president said.

 

Mukherjee cautioned against the exploitation of "fault lines" in the society, intolerance and attack on women.

 

He said there should be no room in the country for the "intolerant Indian" as India has been a bastion of free though, speech and expression since ancient times. Freedom of speech and expression is one of the most important fundamental rights guaranteed by our Constitution. There must be space for legitimate criticism and dissent, he said.

 

The views of Kaur, daughter of an army officer killed in action against militants, evoked sharp reaction from Union minister Kiren Rijiju who went on to ask, "who is polluting her mind". Kaur was allegedly threatened with rape on her Facebook page and was mocked by sportspersons and celebrities who questioned her pacifist approach.

 

The acid test of any society is its attitude towards women and children. India should not fail this test

 

"Protection and safety of our women and children must be a nationwide priority. The acid test of any society is its attitude towards women and children. India should not fail this test," he said.

 

In terse comments, Mukherjee said he does not consider a society or the State to be civilised if its citizens' behaviour towards women is uncivilised.

 

"When we brutalise a woman, we wound the soul of our civilisation. Not only does our Constitution guarantee equal rights to women but our culture and tradition also celebrate the feminine as divine," he said.