First writers, then filmmakers and now country’s top scientist have raised his voice against the growing intolerance in the country.
India’s leading scientist and founder-director of the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), P M Bhargava on Thursday said that he has decided to return the Padma Bhushan award as he was worried about the future of India.
Blaming BJP and RSS for dividing country on religious lines, Bhargava said that their acts are directly constrains the freedom of an individual, which nobody likes.
“Govt & RSS is trying to dictate what we eat & do. This constraints my freedom, that is something I do not like, so the most I can do in protest is return my award” Bhargava said to reporters.
Bhargav added that “We don’t want our democracy to be replaced with religious dictatorship”.
Bhargava’s decision to return the Padma Bhushan, country’s third highest civilian honour came after more than 100 scientists, released a statement online expressing concern at the climate of intolerance and and “the ways in which science and reason was getting eroded in the country.