No room for an intolerant citizen in India, asserts President Mukherjee

In a strong statement, President Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday slammed elements fuelling intolerance in the nation and said that there is no room for and intolerant Indian in the country.

While addressing a gathering on the occasion of the sixth K.S. Rajamony Memorial Lecture, President Mukherjee vouched for the existence for legitimate criticism and dissent.

"There should be no room in India for an intolerant Indian. India has been since ancient times a bastion of free thought, speech and expression. There must be space for legitimate criticism and dissent," said President Mukherjee.

Further commenting on all the ongoing tussle between two student unions AISA and ABVP, the President said it is appalling to see students to succumb to vortex of violence.

"It is tragic to see them (those in Universities) caught in the vortex of violence and disquiet. The time has come for collective efforts to re-discover the sense of national purpose and patriotism," the President said.

He also took the occasion to castigate violence against women and said, "When we brutalise a woman, we wound the soul of our civilisation. Acid test of any society is its attitude towards women and children.