File photo of Congress leader Anand Sharma.
Alleging that "India's democracy was under assault" from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government, the Congress on Wednesday said the "government humiliates people those who do fall in line".
Congress leader Anand Sharma said it could understand the BJP's or the government's criticism of the Congress, but said they had no right to target those who have contributed immensely to the country just because they express contrary views.
"People are worried. Two important personalities have expressed their unhappiness (over incidents of intolerance). Instead of listening to them, the government was humiliating them," Mr Sharma told the media.
"Whoever is with the government is right and is a citizen of the country. But those who don't fall in line are targeted," he said, referring to a BJP leader's comment that Bollywood actor Sharukh Khan lives in India but that his soul was in Pakistan.
The Congress asked the government to apologize to the people for the remark.
On Saturday, Infosys founder NR Narayana Murthy and Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, chairperson of Indian pharma major Biocon Ltd, had expressed concern over fringe elements not being reined in by the government.
Mr Sharma said a large number Hindus do not believe in the policies of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), the BJP's ideological parent, and that the RSS must stop claiming that it represents the entire community.