The intolerance stoked by the majoritarian forces is a threat to democracy and the need of the hour is the willingness to listen to expressions of fear of rising intolerance among citizens and to assuage their apprehensions, People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) has said.
In a statement, PUCL national general secretary V. Suresh said instead of rebuilding confidence, the tendency of these forces was to abuse and demand proof of loyalty, which only made the situation more dangerous.
The debate on intolerance was resurrected in the wake of actor Aamir Khan disclosing that his wife was so upset by the atmosphere of intolerance in the country. She had aired the idea, during a personal conversation, that they should leave India.
“All sorts of comments are being made against Mr. Khan insinuating that his statement shows his ingratitude to India and raising questions about his loyalty. Earlier, motives were imputed to the artists and scientists who had returned their awards in protest against the atmosphere of intolerance in the country,” he said.
Pointing out that intolerance as an attitude, behaviour and response invariably led to hatred, prejudice, hostility and violence, he said it would also undermine dignity, freedom, equality and human rights.
“The fury generated by Mr. Khan’s disclosure… is itself an irrefutable evidence of unacceptable level of intolerance. Kiran Khan or Aamir Khan do not hold any office in the State and are common citizens despite their celebrity status and are free to feel as anyone of us and give expression to their feelings, within the bounds of the law. Is there a law in the country to tell the citizens how they should feel and to make them answerable for what they feel,” he asked.
The artistes and scientists returning their awards in protest against the atmosphere of intolerance had a right, as citizens of India, to be for or against a party or ideology, a political leader or a policy of the government.
‘State has to convince people’
“The State has the right to refute their allegation and convince the people that the protesters are wrong, but not to let loose its horde of hoodlums to accuse those protesting or expressing their feelings of disloyalty to the country or to call them traitors or to ask them to quit the country,” he said.
Debate on intolerance resurrected in the wake of Aamir Khan’s disclosure
