(Image source from: Chief Justice of India assures Judiciary will protect citizens from intolerance})

T S Thakur, Chief Justice of India has on Sunday said that the debate on the growing intolerance in the society had a "political dimension" and assured the citizens that the judiciary is there to protect them from any victimization or discrimination. The 43rd CJI of the country, said that there are some "politics" involved in the debate on intolerance and added that he did not want to get involved in it.

"Our existence is based on a philosophy of tolerance and I don't think it (intolerance) is there. No one should have any reason to fear that they would be thrown out of the country or would be victimized," Justice Thakur said.

"I am heading an institution which protects the constitutional rights of all citizens and also, sometimes, non-citizens. So as long as the rule of law is there and judiciary is functioning, no one should feel threatened. We are capable of protecting the rights of all citizens," he said.

"In so far as we are concerned, we have no such impediments. We have no such bias and we have no such reluctance. We can protect the rights of all citizens," he said.

He further said, "India is a big country, we should not be afraid of anything. Yeh sab perception ki baten hain. Jab tak judiciary independent hai, koi baat ki dar nahi honi chahiye (These are all matters of perception. There is nothing to fear till the judiciary is independent)."

"But, we are committed to uphold the rule of law and protect right of all citizens of the society and people from all creeds and religions. There is no fear to any section of society," Justice Thakur said.

"India is the home of all religions. People prosecuted in their country have come to India and settled. They flourished and prospered here and they also contributed a lot in the progress of this country. Look at Parsi community. They have contributed so much to the development and progress of the country. Their contribution in the judiciary and industrial development is immense. We have legal luminaries and industrialists. We have people upholding rule of law like FS Nariman, Nani Palkhivala and you know their contributions," he said.

"We don't have reluctance or bias in protecting the rights of all sections of society. People should not get upset till the judiciary is there. There is no need to fear," he said, adding that India is known for diversity and tolerance which were the most valuable assets of the country.

"Some frailty and animal instincts are there in human minds, but there should be spirit of tolerance in an inclusive society and mutual respect and faith in each other's religions. That should be promoted and we can progress only then," Thakur said.

By Premji