Ram hails 'secular spirit' shown by media on intolerance

Lauding the "secular spirit" displayed by Indian media in debating the issue of intolerance, veteran journalist N Ram today said a secular state acts against anything that violates secularism which is enshrined in the Constitution.
"The principles of secularism are embedded in our Constitution. Secularism means that the State is absolutely neutral in relation to all faiths and also no faith," Ram, Chairman of Kasturi and Sons Ltd, publishers of 'The Hindu', said.
He was responding to queries at a press meet held here to announce the launch of the newspaper's Mumbai edition from tomorrow.
"The secular State protects all religions and believers and respects them. The State is neutral. It is not only a non-theocratic state but it also doesn't tilt towards the majority or whatever," he said.

"It takes a stern stand against anything that violates (secularism), whether by the so called majority or the so called minority. That is my understanding of secularism," he said.
"The Hindu has stood for this (secularism). The first editorial of The Hindu said 'we are not entering into any religious disputes' and so on.
"I see a lot of secular spirit in the Indian press and news media. This is why I think it has a spirited resistance when these episodes of intolerance manifest. It causes a lot of concern. Writers, film makers, historians, scientists have come out (against intolerance) as they have rarely come out in recent decades," he said.

Recalling that in Mumbai itself he has participated in some "fine discussions on this", he said "When there was intolerance, we all came out and expressed solidarity and people of Mumbai supported us.