Hamid Ansari’s parting message draws angry response from BJP
Outgoing Vice-President says intolerance making minorities feel insecure
In his last address as the VicePresident, Hamid Ansari on Thursday said that democracy would turn into tyranny if opposition groups are not given the right to free criticism, adding that a democracy is distinguished by the protection it gives to minority.
“A democracy is distinguished by the protection it gives to minority. Democracy is likely to degenerate into a tyranny if it does not allow opposition groups to criticise freely and frankly the policies of the government. But at the same time, the minorities have also their responsibilities,” he said, quoting former President Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan during his farewell speech at the Rajya Sabha.
But it was Ansari’s interview to Rajya Sabha TV on Wednesday that has created a flutter in political circles. Ansari said that Muslims in the country were experiencing a “feeling of unease”, adding, “A sense of insecurity is creeping in as a result of the dominant mood created by some and the resultant intolerance and vigilantism.”
The outgoing Vice-President referred to incidents of lynching and alleged killings as a “breakdown of Indian values, breakdown of the ability of the authorities at different levels in different places to be able to enforce what should be normal law enforcing work and overall the very fact that Indianness of any citizen being questioned is a disturbing thought”.
In the Rajya Sabha on Thursday, rich tributes were paid to Ansari. Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the MPs, saying, “Your diplomatic insights were invaluable, especially when I discussed with you before and after my bilateral visits. You have been a career diplomat, I got to know when I became the Prime Minister. Observing you, I saw mannerisms of a career diplomat.”
Former Union Minister and veteran BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu will assume the office of the Vice-President on Friday. He will also be the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
A SENSE of insecurity is creeping in as a result of the dominant mood created by some and the resultant intolerance and vigilantism — Hamid Ansari