Union minister Nitin Gadkari has said the biggest test of democracy is that the ruler tolerates even the strongest opinion against him, and it leads to introspection.
Writers and intellectuals should express themselves fearlessly, the senior BJP leader said at a book release function held at MIT World Peace University here on Friday.
"The biggest test of democracy is that the king tolerates the strongest opinion against him and introspects over it," he said.
In India, there is no problem of difference of opinion but "there is a problem of lack of opinion," the Road Transport and Highways Minister said.
"We are neither rightist nor leftist. We are opportunists. It is expected from writers and intellectuals that they express their opinions without any fear," he added.
Gadkari also said that as long as untouchability and notions of social inferiority and superiority persist, the work of nation-building can not be said to be complete.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
"Way Rahul Gandhi Speaks, Nobody Takes Him Seriously": Nitin Gadkari "All's Fair In Love And Politics": Nitin Gadkari Points To Sharad Pawar In A First, 2 Mizoram Landowners To Get Compensation For Same Land Plots "Go Falcon. Go GSAT-20": SpaceX Successfully Launches Indian Satellite Supreme Court Asks About Delhi Construction Ban. Lawyer's Reply Stuns Judge Why Donald Trump's Cabinet Choices Are Giving Pakistan Sleepless Nights Delhi Air Remains Toxic, Dense Fog Lowers Visibility, Trains Delayed FMGE 2024: Edit Window For Foreign Medical Graduate Exam To Open Soon US Boy, 14, Pleads Guilty To Beating, Sexually Assaulting 91-Year-Old Woman Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.