CPI-M questions Modi's silence on intolerance

In the wake of growing intolerance in the country, West Bengal's opposition Left Front chairman Biman Bose on Wednesday said the combine would reach out to the masses over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence on the raging issue.

"The present prime minister of India (Modi) used to term the former prime minister (Manmohan Singh) as 'Mouno Mohan' (Silent Mohan). Now, the silence of the current prime minister has to be taken to the people," he told media persons here.

Asked about his stance when the prime minister is keeping silent on this issue, Bose termed Modi as 'Mouno Modi' (Silent Modi), and said there was a "flood of intolerance in the country".

"Talks or actions from any political party or organisation which may disturb the prevalent secular stature of the country should not be made," he said.

A host of writers, filmmakers, scientists and historians have announced the return of awards and honours as a mark of protest against recent events like the lynching of a Muslim man in Dadri of Uttar Pradesh, the murder of Kannada rationalist scholar M.M. Kalburgi, and the police 'raid' in Delhi's Kerala House.