India most secular country, says Rajnath Singh

He said India is the only country in the world where people of all faiths live

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said India is the most secular country in the world despite its diversity and the fact that people of all faiths live here.

"If there is any secular country in the world, it is India," the home minister told the Rajya Sabha while responding to a calling attention motion on alleged inflammatory speeches by union ministers and elected representatives in violation of the Constitution and oath of office.

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"India is the only country in the world where people of all faiths live," he said, adding that "not only this, all major sects of all religions, including Islam and Christianity, are found here, which is not the case with any other country".

The minister also called upon all political parties to join hands in protecting India's unity and integrity.

"A single political party cannot protect the country's unity and integrity. We all will have to make collective efforts for that," he added.

Rajnath Singh ruled out any action against union Minister of State for Human Resource Development Ram Shankar Katheria, who allegedly made a hate speech during a function in Agra.

"I heard Katheria's speech and I made others hear it. We all agreed there is nothing inflammatory in the speech," he said.

Rajnath Singh also said that communal harmony "should not be measured in terms of political gain or loss".

"It should only be measured in terms of justice and humanity."