Trivandrum (Kerala)[India]: President Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday said that freedom to doubt, disagree and dispute intellectually must be protected as an essential pillar of the democracy.
“Freedom to doubt, disagree and dispute intellectually must be protected as an essential pillar of our democracy,” he said at 77th Session of Indian History Congress.
President Mukherjee added that India’s pluralism, social, cultural, linguistic and religious diversity are the greatest strength of the nation.
“Our traditions have always celebrated ‘argumentative’ Indian not ‘intolerant’ Indian,” he added.
He said that the Indian History Congress has a creditable record of standing up for freedom of expression and asking historians to be faithful to the cause of reason. “It has often taken cudgels against distortions of history.”
The President expressed hope that the Indian History Congress will continue to remain alert and vigilant in the cause of an objective study of history. (ANI)