Time to act, not to deliver speeches on intolerance: Sitaram Yechury

NEW DELHI: CPI(M) today hit out at Finance Minister Arun Jaitley for his remark terming as an "extremly disturbing trend" rising incidents of intolerance and vandalism, saying it is time for the Centre to act against them instead of delivering "sanctimonious" speeches.

Speaking to journalists, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury also questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "silence" over such incidents.

"It is very strange what our Finance Minister has said... (he is) saying they are disturbed by the fact that people are resorting to violence to make their points. These are not times for preaching and making sanctimonious speeches.

"They are the government. Inciting passions through public speaking is a criminal offence under the Indian Penal Code. Why is no action being taken?" Yechury asked.

The CPI(M) leader also termed as "sham" BJP president Amit Shah on Sunday "reprimanding" party leaders who made controversial comments after Modi voiced "extreme displeasure" over their action.

"What is this great mercy the Prime Minister is showing by asking the BJP president to call the people who make such speeches and warn them? The Prime Minister is very, very adept at tweeting. Then why there is not a single tweet if he is so concerned? I mean all this is a sham," he said.

Yechury also invoked statements made by President Pranab Mukherjee to the nation about Indian value of tolerance.

"It is very very uncharacteristic and unusual that the honourable President of India within a fortnight has to repeat the traditions and historical legacy of tolerance in India. The fact that he had to do so, speaks volume of the concern that he has about the deteriorating situation all across the country," he said.

Amidst rising instances of intolerance and vandalism, Mukherjee had yesterday expressed serious apprehension over whether tolerance and acceptance of dissent are on the wane in the country.

Less than a fortnight ago too, against the backdrop of the Dadri lynching incident, Mukherjee had made a strong appeal for maintaining the core civilisational values of diversity, tolerance and plurality that have kept India united for centuries.