andalib akhter /

Lok sabha is all set to start a debate of the issue of growing intolerance on Monday as the Speaker Sumitra Mahajan has accepted the notices of CPI- M member P Karunakaran and Congress MP K C Venugopal for a discussion on the matter.

Two opposition members had given notices for a discussion on the issue under rule 193, which does not entail voting. The matter has been listed for Monday.

Opposition has been seeking a discussion on the issue of intolerance for quite some time.

At an all-party meeting held on November 25 opposition parties made a strong pitch for an early discussion on the issue, insisting that returning of awards by writers, artistes and filmmakers should not be taken lightly.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu had said that the government was ready to discuss all issues including that of so called intolerance though it fell in the domain of states.

He had said government is particularly aware of the opposition’s concerns over some unfortunate incidents that have happened in recent weeks including Dadri incident and killing of noted writer M M Kalburgi.

Mr Naidu said that government has condemned those incidents as they go against the traditional and highly cherished values of tolerance.