Opposition today targeted government in the Lok Sabha over the issue of 'intolerance', saying instead of "developed India", a "divided India" was coming to the fore and it is a matter of serious concern.
NCP leader Supriya Sule referred to the remarks of actors Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan on intolerance, saying the issue needs to be taken seriously and it is a duty of the party in position of power to remove the sense of insecurity from peoples' mind.
"Lets not run down Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan. They have contributed substantially globally for India...Their whole contribution is big," she said while participating in debate on 'intolerance' in the House.
She said not only the famous people, even the common people are feeling insecure and it is the duty of the party that is in power to make them feel secure.
"We are looking for a developed India but if you read any newspaper or watch any channel, actually we are looking at a divided India. There are very serious concerns raised from various sections of society," said Sule, daughter of Sharad Pawar.
She urged Home Minister Rajnath Singh to tell the BJP members to think before commenting on any issue particularly related to intolerance.
Expressing disappointment over murder of rationalists Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare, she said these were acts of intolerance.
"I represent and come from a state (Maharashtra) which is suffering from intolerance...People now ask me, what is happening in your state?," she said.
She said Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis did nothing when the music functions were canceled in Mumbai.
Further, she said the present government is making progressive statements and keeps talking about smart cities and digital India "but the beef ban and 'ghar wapsi' issues come in digital India and modern India. Deliver the results that you have committed to".
This is the right and opportune time "to clean up everything", Sule said, adding that instead of commenting on people who returned their awards, BJP should "rethink what is happening".
YSR Congress Party member Varaprasad Rao said whatever is happening in the country during the last 18 months is "little disturbing".
He said that instead of getting into the controversy of intolerance, people should think of renovating the thousands of temples which are in dilapidated condition.
SP member Dharmendra Yadav said the central government
should look at issues like poverty and unemployment instead of discussing on intolerance.
He alleged after the Dadri lynching incident, a minister of BJP-led government tried to threaten minorities by giving statements. He also asked the government to look into the reasons behind the return of awards by several people.
Questioning the "tolerance" of intellectuals who returned their awards, BJP MP Kirron Kher said where was their intolerance during ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri Pandits or the anti-Sikh riots and questioned the yardstick or data being used to measure intolerance. "These intellectuals had accepted awards from the Congress," she said.
Noting that a "perception of intolerance was being created", she asked where was the tolerance of Congress when Amitabh Bachchan's invitation as Chief Guest at the Goa Film Festival was withdrawn when UPA was in power.
She, however, also said there were "wrong statements from both the sides" and condemned the attack on Sudheendra Kulkarni allegedly by Shiv Sena activists. She also referred to an alleged attack by NCP when her husband and actor Anupam Kher supported the Anna movement and said "fringe elements are everywhere."
To this NCP's Supriya Sule said, "For all this time those who did it were hooligans. But this time they are your partners in the government." This also led to protests by Shiv Sena members.
Defending the government, Akali Dal member P S Chandumajra said those talking about "intolerance are showing tolerance" in the House. He also raised the issue of intolerance during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
Taking the intolerance debate to the sacking of SAD government in 1980s in Punjab when the Congress was at the Centre, he quipped there was an instance case when "raat tak mantri the, aur subah santri ban gaye (you were a Minister till the night, but became a sentry next morning)".
Attacking the government, RJD's Jay Prakash Narayan Yadav sought action against Union Minister V K Singh for his controversial remarks allegedly against Dalits.
AAP MP from Patiala Dharamvira Gandhi said intolerance has increased in the past few months and it was the responsibility of the majority community to take the responsibility of protecting the minority.
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Shashi Tharoor (Cong) said the "bomb of communalism" was dividing India and 'Make in India' cannot be promoted when there is ongoing hatred inside the country.
Maintaining that intolerance has been unleashed on the country in the last few months, Sugata Bose (TMC) said humanity should be the only religion that should be followed in the country.
"Let us pledge not to make minorities feel unsafe in the country... The Government can learn more only if it hears the criticism of the opposition rather than the eulogy of supporters," Bose said, demanding strong action by the Prime Minister against the acts of such elements who are spreading prejudice in the country.
He said if Ambedkar was alive he would have been saddened by the prevailing situation and urged the Government to uphold the fundamental rights of people.
Anupriya Patel (Apna Dal) criticised the "negative bias" of the media while reporting on communal tensions and said the media does not highlight the instances of love and affection between communities.
Dushyant Chautala ((INLD) said the parties should rise above their political interests and instead think about farmer suicide and betterment of youths.
Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM) condemned the killings of Muslims in the past few months and questioned that why even after 68 years of independence, a Muslim finds it difficult to rent a house in India. He asked why is it that whenever he opposed BJP, he was called "anti-national".
He sought amendments to the NHRC Act so that it can enquire communal incidents and also wanted setting up of an Equal Opportunity Commission.
