Everyone knows where intolerance in India is coming from: Ratan Tata

Indian business giant chief terms intolerance in India a 'curse'

In an apparent dig at Indian extremist parties, the head of India's Tata Group expressed concern over the growing intolerance in the country.

"I think everybody knows where the intolerance is coming from and what it is. Like many thousands, millions of Indians, one wants to see a country without intolerance," Ratan Tata, chairman of Emeritus of Tata Sons, said while addressing media personnel at a school in Madhya Pradesh state on Saturday.

Tata supported the stance of Indian Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia, who addressed the media before him "The Maharaja [Jyotiraditya Scindia] talked about intolerance. It is a curse we are seeing of late," the eminent industrialist said in his address. A crackdown on dissent was against the progress of society, the Congress leader said, while hitting out at cow vigilantes.

"We want to live in an environment where we love our fellow men. We don't shoot them, we don't kill them. We don't hold them hostages but give a bit of ourselves and we give and take," the industrialist said.



Earlier during his address, Scindia said “an environment of intolerance" was prevailing in the country today. "An environment in which each one of us is told what to speak, what to hear, how to dress, what to eat," he said.

"We want you to be winners. We also want you to be thinkers... And the hallmark of a civilised society is debate, discussion and disagreement," the Congressman said.

Earlier on September 17, a 25-year old Muslim man was beaten to death by 'cow vigilantes' in India on the suspicion that he was transporting cows for slaughter.



Experts says India is faced with a problem that runs deeper than the one Pakistan faces in terms of dealing with extremism. The developing situation in India at the hands of extremist groups targeting Muslims, Dalits and other minorities can have profound consequences for South Asia. In held Kashmir, more than 100 protesters have been killed by Indian security forces. The situation has also heithened tensions with the nuclear arch-rival Pakistan that demands a thorough probe of the killings and right to self determination for Kashmiris.

The article first appeared on The Huffington Post.