"India is, was, and will be tolerant", Home Minister Rajnath Singh asserted in parliament on Tuesday.
Replying to a debate in the Lok Sabha on the situation arising out of incidents of intolerance in the country, he said the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government was being targeted in the name of intolerance.
"There have been attacks in the name of intolerance. We are not tolerant due to pressure from somebody but it's in our culture," he told the Lok Sabha, adding that anybody trying to disturb the peace in the country would be dealt with strongly.
The union minister said the subject of the debate is "dangerous and self-destroying".
"This subject is dangerous and self-destroying. What kind of message are we sending to the world? This allegation is not against the government but against Indian society," the home minister said.
At the same time, Rajnath Singh asked the opposition parties to "honour the mandate the NDA government has got".
He also assured parliament that the government would do anything possible to maintain peace and tolerance in the country.
"I want to assure all political parties, scientists, artists and others that we will not allow intolerance. If they feel that there is intolerance please come and discuss it, we will work on the issue," he said, adding that "I am prepared to sit with you and would do everything possible to ensure tolerance in the country".
On the issue of minister V.K Singh allegedly comparing Dalits with dogs, the home minister said he had a word with the latter and was told that he was "misquoted".
Earlier in the day, Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju declared that despite belonging to a minority community, he never feared anything.
