TIL Desk/National/Thiruvananthapuram/ Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has asserted that religion is a “personal choice” and it should always remain free from any “coercion or allurement”. The senior BJP leader made the assertion while observing that Indian tradition takes pride in giving freedom to have, to retain and to adopt a religion or belief.
He also appealed to all religious sects to act with restraint and respect everyone, stressing the need to strengthen the bonds of unity, amity and harmony in society. Singh said the country’s long standing convention for openness to new ideas, tolerance towards other faiths and giving them respect was as old as Indian civilisation itself.
The home minister was speaking at a civic reception accorded to Philipose Mar Chrysostom Mar Thoma Valiya Metropolitan on his 101 birthday celebrations. “I have no hesitation in accepting the fact that almost every government in this country has been tolerant towards all religions and faiths. This principle of equality and tolerance for all faiths has been a part of India’s character and sensibilities for thousands of years,” he said.
