Attack on thinkers assault to nation: Manmohan Singh

In the midst of alleged intolerance in the country, former prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Friday expressed his sorrow over the way NDA government handled the raging issue.

Hailing efforts by writers and intellectuals to condemn the stifling of the dissent and “incidents of intolerance in the country”, Dr Singh said, “All right thinking persons in country have condemned such incidents in the strongest terms approach, as an assault on nationhood”.

Singh, who served two consecutive terms as Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, said in a speech that the state and religion should remain separate, Indian broadcaster NDTV reported. “The nation is deeply concerned at recent tragic instances of violations of freedom of thought, belief, speech and expression by a few violent extremist groups” he said. Religion could never become the basis for public policy and should not be imposed on anyone.

“The assault or murder of thinkers for no more than disagreement with their views, or (of people) because of the food they eat, or their caste, can not be justified on any grounds”.

The comments come at a time “rising intolerance” has been the dominating theme of protests by writers, artists, filmmakers and opposition parties following incidents like the killing of rationalists and mob attacks over beef-eating or cow slaughter rumours.

Speaking of Nehru’s vision, Dr Singh said the timeless insight of Jawaharlal Nehru that there will be no peace without freedom; and no freedom without peace is as fresh and relevant to the world in 2015 as it was when it was written by Nehru, half a century ago. “There might be no free market with out freedom”, he stated.

The former PM had recently took part in the protest march to the Rashtrapati Bhawan led by Congress president Sonia Gandhi.