Haridwar hate speech should be negated, says Gadkari

New Delhi: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has said the recent hate speeches -- as happened at religious conclaves in Haridwar and Delhi -- should be “negated and given no importance”. In such cases, the law should be allowed to take its course, he told a TV channel in an exclusive interview.

Only five people have been named so far in the Haridwar hate speech case, where calls to arms against Muslims and genocide were issued openly.

“In my view, Swami Vivekananda said it all at the religious conclave in Chicago -- that our religion is based on tolerance, simplicity, inclusiveness... Our kings never broke anyone’s place of worship. We are not expansionists. We want the good of everyone -- of the world, of every living creature. This is our heritage and our viewpoint,” Gadkari said.

“So anyone who goes against it is not our viewpoint. It should be negated and given no importance,” he added.

Asked whether action should be taken in such cases, where efforts are made to create rift and communal tension, he said the law should take its course.

“We should remain tolerant, respectful towards all religions, should not hurt anyone’s sentiments and take everyone forward,” he added, invoking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “Sabka Saath” slogan.

On the Bulli Bai app, used to ‘auction’ Muslim women, he said “Actions of some individuals should not be taken as a reflection of a society. The law will take its own course”.