Free speech is fine, but democracy needs regulations, says VP Naidu
Insists it is wrong to say our society is growing intolerant
CHANDIGARH: “Choose your mother tongue to speak and choose your words carefully too”. This was the message of Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu to students at a leadership summit at Mohali on Friday.
Naidu, who was delivering the keynote address at the Indian School of Business (ISB) Leadership Summit themed ,‘ Transforming Tomorrow: The Future Unraveled’, said there has been a debate on the “growing intolerance” and freedom of speech for some time.
Referring to the Jawaharlal Nehru University controversy, he said, “Some people expressed their views on Afzal Guru... in a democracy we have a right to express our views. But these views have to be within the constitutional framework. There have to be limitations on the freedom of speech and expression. It does not mean we can hurt the feelings of others. We need regulations for democracy to survive. The dignity of an individual is important, but it cannot be above the integrity of the country,” he said.
Naidu also said it is wrong to say that the society is growing intolerant.
“Our society is tolerant towards mandate given by people. It is tolerant towards the views of others. Our Constitution guarantees liberty to practice one’s religion and right to equality irrespective of caste, creed and religion. Diversity is the beauty of India. But secularism is strong in India not because of Constitution but because it is in the DNA of Indians and the society cannot be branded as growing intolerant,” he added.
Reiterating the importance of using mother tongue, Naidu told students to be proud of their heritage. “Speak in any other language only when the other person does not know your mother tongue,” he said. When talking of heritage, Naidu also referred to “Ram Rajya” (period when Lord Rama ruled).
“Ram Rajya is still hailed as the greatest period of our history because of ideal governance. But if one talks about it today, it too may be given a communal angle,” he said during his speech peppered with humour.
Naidu even accepted that he is not always politically correct.
“I am reminded by people near me that I should not speak from my heart now. I am the vicepresident of the country. But if I do not speak from my heart, it will get enlarged and it is not good for my health,” he told an amused audience.
Advocating equal opportunities for women, he said, “In ancient times too, goddess Durga was our defence minister and goddess Laxmi, our finance minister.” For transforming India, he said, “As the old saying goes, teach a man to fish rather than giving him a fish,” he said.
Recounting the achievements of the NDA government, he said, “he has retired from politics, but not tired”.
Union minister of state for civil aviation, Jayant Sinha, Hero Corporate Service Private Limited chairman Sunil Kant Munja land Punjab health minister Brahm Mohindra( here presented Punjab CM Captain Am arin der Singh who is in Gurdaspur for filing the nomination papers of state party chief Sunil Jakhar for Lok Sabha bypoll) were also present.
› In ancient times, goddess Durga was our defence minister and goddess Laxmi, our finance minister. M VENKAIAH NAIDU, V-P