'India most tolerant country in the world': Home Minister dismisses allegations of 'rising bigotry'
"India is the only country in the world where people from various prominent religions co-exist peacefully... They have contributed in making India empowered, self-reliant and prosperous and will continue to do so," he added.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday dismissed the allegations about rising intolerance in the country and claimed that there was no nation in the world as tolerant as India.
"The tolerance that exists in India, I don't think that it can be found in any corner of the world," the home minister told media at the Singh, the 114th foundation day of King George's Medical University in Lucknow today.
"India is the only country in the world where people from various prominent religions co-exist peacefully... They have contributed in making India empowered, self-reliant and prosperous and will continue to do so," he added.
Rajnath's statement assumes significance in the wake of actor Naseeruddin Shah's remarks in reference to the killing of a policeman in Bulandshahr earlier this month.
The veteran actor had Friday said that the death of a cow was being given importance over killing of a policeman in the violence.
(With inputs from PTI)