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Rajan, NRN, Zubin Mehta speak out

Last Updated 31 October 2015, 20:15 IST

RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan, Infosys co-founder N R Narayana Murthy and music maestro Zubin Mehta on Saturday joined writers, historians, scientists and filmmakers batting for an environment of tolerance and mutual respect.

Speaking at the convocation ceremony of IIT-Delhi, Rajan nuanced his remarks by saying “excessive political correctness stifles progress as much as excessive license and disrespect.”

“Tolerance means not being so insecure about one’s ideas that one cannot subject them to challenge – it implies a degree of detachment that is necessary for mature debate,” he said.

BJP’s Subramanian Swamy hit out at Rajan saying he should stick to his job and should not speak like a grandfather.

Former finance minister P Chidambaram wondered whether the BJP will also dub President Pranab Mukherjee and Rajan’s speeches “manufactured protest”. 

‘Minorities in fear’

Speaking on a TV show, Murthy said he sensed considerable fear among minorities in the country. “I am not a politician, I am not interested in politics, therefore, I don't want to comment on that but the reality today is that there is considerable fear in the minds of the minority in India”, he said.

The 79-year-old Mumbai-born conductor Zubin Mehta batted for complete freedom of expression for writers and filmmakers. A day ago, Mehta had said he failed to understand why artistes, writers, filmmakers and scientists were returning their awards.

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(Published 31 October 2015, 20:14 IST)

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