Mamata speaks out against intolerance

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday yet again spoke out on the issue of intolerance in the country, as she invoked Jesus Christ to "give us tolerance".

Inaugurating the fifth edition of the Kolkata Christmas Festival at Allen Park, Banerjee said: "We ask Lord Jesus to give us tolerance. We may not like someone or something but we cannot disrespect them."

"We are one. India is a country of unity in diversity. Swami Vivekananda said unity is strength, divided we fall," the chief minister said.

"May Jesus Christ be our guiding star in this era of intolerance," she said.

Since the issue of intolerance broke out in the country, Banerjee has time and again condemned the various incidents like the Dadri lynching and the verbal assaults against superstars Aamir Khan and Shahrukh Khan after they expressed their concern on the unfolding situation.

Archbishop Thomas D'Souza and Bishop of Kolkata Ashoke Biswas, and eminent members of the Christian community were present on the occasion.

The Kolkata Christmas Festival, supported by the state tourism department, would continue till January 2.