Ahead of Christmas, Archbishop of Bhopal Father leo Cornelio on Monday said intolerance has grown in recent times, especially after the BJP came to power at the Centre last year.
Expressing concern over alleged incidents of rising intolerance in the country while talking to media persons here on Monday, the Archbishop said the people should respect each other's views on any issue without resorting to violence.
Father leo Cornelio cited the examples of the Aamir Khan episode and the alleged attack on a group of Christians reciting the Bible in Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh.
"I think intolerance has grown in the recent times, especially after the new Government came at the Centre. Take an example of actor Aamir Khan, who had shared concerns of his wife on the issue, but the way it was protested by those associated with politics is not fair," Archbishop said.
"Everyone has the right to freedom of speech in the country and we should not oppose it just for the sake of opposition," he said.
When specifically asked if as head of the Christian community he had ever encountered any kind of intolerance in the BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh, Cornelio highlighted an incident at Jabalpur where the community people reciting Bible were allegedly attacked by rightwing forces in March this year.
"It was an avoidable incident. If you are not happy with something like loud voice on speaker or getting disturbed by anything, then you can always request them to lower it. You are not supposed to resort to violent means," he said.
Expressing anguish over delay in action to rein in such elements, Father leo Cornelio said, "The Government has not taken any prompt action in the matter. Some people were arrested but still a number of them are not yet apprehended."
On the MP Government's plan to introduce lessons from the 'Gita' in the curriculum, Father leo Cornelio said, "Gita does have many good things in it. But other religious texts also have many good things. Therefore, efforts should be made to incorporate the best of all religions in the school syllabus."
Condemning violence in the name of religion in Syria, Iraq and libya, he said no religion has any place for violence in it.
On the charges that Christians were involved in religious conversions, he said, "We have never intended to convert anyone. If someone embraces Christianity by getting impressed with our services, then it is his/her individual choice. We never forced anyone."