Shabana Azmi was addressing a session at the Women in the World India Summit
Bollywood actress Shabana Azmi on Friday expressed her solidarity with those who have been raising the issue of intolerance in the country. She said the growing intolerance was "worrying" and that the fringe elements needed to be "put down". (Also Read:
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"The growing intolerance in the country is extremely worrying. The debate currently is not just about putting the fringe elements down, but also about respecting dissent," Shabana
ji said while addressing a session at the Women in the World India Summit.
Shabanaji, a former member of parliament, stood her ground and said that in a pluralist country like India, "there are bound to be disagreements and dissent must be respected".
"Intolerance will continue, but the question remains how the state will deal with this," the actress said.
Many artistes and writers in the country have been raising the issue of growing intolerance in the country. Last month, a group of filmmakers returned their National Awards condemning the murders of rationalists like MM Kalburgi and recent killings related to rumours of beef-eating and cow slaughter.