Sorabjee draws attention to growing intolerance

Mangalore, Jan 13 (UNI) Former Attorney General Soli J Sorabjee today said there was an urgent need to combat the growth of intolerance and the deadly threat it posed to intellectual freedom.

''The practice of tolerance in our multi-religious and multi-cultural nation must be regarded as a fundamental duty of every citizen and must be actively encouraged if we are to make our pluralist democracy a living robust reality,'' he said, delivering the 25th annual convocation address of the Mangalore University on 'Regeneration of Ethical Values' at Konaje, about 25 km from here.

Mr Sorabjee cautioned that the rise of fanaticism and intolerance all around had become the gravest threat for the country as it had assumed menacing proportions not confined to any particular party or group or religion or sect. ''It is worrying that we have reached a stage where even moderate expression of a different point of view is met with hostility. There have been vocifereous demands for bans and banning itch has become infectious,'' he added.

Citing several instances, he said demands for banning films and books were fanaticism at its worst and height of intolerance. ''When intolerance reigns, reason takes back seat. Intolerance thrives on prejudice and fosters feelings of ill will and animosity between different classes and communites.'' The legal luminary said schools, colleges and universities have a special role to play in inculcating among the students respect for and mutual accommodation of different faiths and beliefs.

Referring to the vicious growth of corruption in all fields, Mr Sorabjee stressed that stringent laws were required to combat corruption. But more than laws, public opinion must be galvanised agaist the corrupt gentry who should be publicly made aware that they were the scum of the society who deserved to be ostracised by right thinking people.

As the justice delivery system had dismally failed and there was no other mode of effective redressal, there was no remedy for the growing incidents of violence, he said.

UNI