India is highly democratic, tolerant country: Assocham President Sunil Kanoria

NEW DELHI: India is a highly democratic and tolerant country, new Assocham President Sunil Kanoria said on Thursday.

"The very fact that we are tolerating the intolerance itself is an adequate proof to say that we are a tolerant country", Kanoria told reporters in the national capital.

He was responding to a query whether the debate about intolerance is impacting India's image, industry and investments.

The statement comes in the backdrop of debate over intolerance.

He said that media should play an important role in spreading positivity.

"It is a huge responsibility on the media...what India is today, it is so highly democratic. It cannot be intolerant, it can be far away from intolerance", he said.

"You may have a few incidence, you have such a large population. You may have some segment of things here and there but our ability to tolerate intolerance itself is a proof of our tolerance", the new president said.

From the perspective of the industry, he said: "I would put a lot of onus on media that we need to ensure that we create positivity, we do not create negativity. If we are able to do that, it will take care of investments".