Discrimination, violence against any community won't be tolerated: PM Modi

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in an exclusive interview with ANI, has made it clear that any discrimination or violence against any community in the nation would not be tolerated.

"I have said this before and I say it again: any discrimination or violence against any community will not be tolerated. My position on this is very clear: 'Sab ka saath, sab ka vikas'. We stand for each of the 1.25 billion Indians regardless of caste or creed and we will work for the progress of each of them. Every faith in our country has equal rights; it is equal not only before the law but also before society," said Prime Minister Modi.

He added that the constitution of the country guarantees religious freedom to every citizen and that is non- negotiable. "Our Constitution guarantees religious freedom to every citizen and that is not negotiable. The tradition of welcoming, respecting and honouring all faiths is as old as India itself. As Swami Vivekananda said: We believe not only in universal toleration, but we accept all religions as true. This principle of equal respect and treatment for all faiths has been a part of India's ethos for thousands of years. And that is how it became integral to the Constitution of India," said the Prime Minister.

"Our Constitution did not evolve in a vacuum. It has roots in the ancient cultural traditions of India. I expect that everyone will understand and respect this," he added.