Nitin Gadkari says ‘biggest test of democracy is king’s tolerance for dissent’
The Union minister’s remark seemed to be a veiled criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
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Union minister Nitin Gadkari said on Friday that “the biggest test of democracy is that the king tolerates the strongest opinion against him and introspects over it”, reported PTI.
While Gadkari did not clarify if his remark was directed at a specific person, it seemed to be a veiled criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The veteran Bharatiya Janata Party leader also said that writers and intellectuals should express themselves without fear, according to the news agency. He was speaking at a book launch at MIT World Peace University in Pune, Maharashtra.
“At present, our country is facing a problem not about differences of opinion, but the lack of it,” he said, according to The Times of India. “We are called the mother of democracy, which stands on the four pillars of legislative, executive, judiciary and media. Our Constitution specifies the rights and responsibilities of each.”
This Constitution allows thinkers to voice their opinions in the national interest without any fear, he added.
Gadkari also said that social inequalities triggered by caste or religion would not allow the country to progress. “Fundamental spirit of Gita, Quran and Bible is the same,” he said. “It is an individual’s choice how to offer prayers to his or her god. Just as we have freedom of speech, we have freedom of...
