India most tolerant nation in the world: Rajnath Singh on Naseeruddin Shah's remark

NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said that India is the most tolerant country in the world, in the wake of a controversy over legendary Bollywood actor Naseeruddin Shah`s recent statement on Bulandshahr violence.

"You will not find the kind of tolerance anywhere in the world which we have in our country. India is the most tolerant country," the Union Home Minister said.

''There are 72 sects in Islam, all of them are found here, not even the Islamic countries have all. There’s no question of intolerance in the country,'' Singh said.

"It is in India where the people of all religions stay together peacefully. People irrespective of their religion contribute to the development of India and will continue to do so," Singh said while interacting with media persons.

Actor Naseeruddin Shah had recently triggered a controversy by saying that he feared for the safety of his children while commenting on the Bulandshahr violence.

In the wake of his criticism, Shah later clarified that his remarks were that of a worried Indian and he has done no wrong in doing so.

He had told the media, "I have made the statement as a worried Indian and I have previously also done so. I don't know for what reason I am being branded as a traitor."

Recently, a video surfaced on the social media where Shah could be heard saying, "At many places, the death of a cow is being given more importance than the killing of a policeman."

"I feel anxious for my children because tomorrow if a mob surrounds them and asks, 'Are you a Hindu or a Muslim` they will have no answer. It worries me that I don`t see the situation improving anytime soon," he was heard saying so in the video.

Surprisingly, Pakistan PM Imran Khan too backed Shah and said that the members of the minority community were unsafe in India. He even went on to say that the 'New Pakistan' envisioned by him will show the Narendra Modi government how to treat minorities in their country.    

Several intellectuals, politicians and religious personalities criticised Shah for showing India in a bad light. 

On December 3, a police inspector Subodh Kumar Singh and a civilian identified as Sumit were killed after violence broke out in Uttar Pradesh`s Bulandshahr over the rumour of cow slaughter.

(With ANI Inputs)