Religious tolerance innate to Indian culture: Home Minister Rajnath Singh

HARIDWAR: In the backdrop of recent attacks on Churches in Delhi, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said no one is insecure in the country no matter which religion he belongs to as religious tolerance is innate to Indian culture.

"Religious tolerance is inbuilt in our culture. No one is insecure in this country, no matter which religion he or she belongs to," Singh told reporters here on the sidelines of a function in reply to a question on the recent attacks on Churches in Delhi.

Assuring that stern action will be taken against those indulging in such activities (vandalisation of churches), the minister said he had issued necessary orders to ensure that no one feels unsafe anywhere in the country.

Earlier on the sidelines of a function at SSB Academy, Srinagar Garhwal, the Union Home Minister said religious tolerance is part of the Indian ethos and its social fabric.

"Many religions with their various sects coexist in India. Inclusiveness and the spirit of peaceful coexistence is the most outstanding feature of our cultural heritage," Singh said.

He was replying to a question about US President Barack Obama's recent statement, in which he has said that the current atmosphere of religious intolerance in India would have shocked Mahatma Gandhi if he was alive.