President Pranab Mukherjee today said discussion and dissension in public debate are important in a democracy and there should always be room for the argumentative Indian, not intolerant Indian. He said the spirit of tolerance is what defines people as Indians. <br/><br/>Delivering the Ramnath Goenka lecture in New Delhi, Mr. Mukherjee said India's civilization believes in pluralism, social, cultural and linguistic diversity. <br/><br/>He said this is why 1.3 billion people using 200 languages and seven religions are residing as one identity. He said therefore there is a need to be sensitive to dominant narrative of those who make the loudest noise drowning out those who disagree. <br/><br/>The President said the question that people face, including the media, is whether to define themselves as a nation of vibrant or partisan views. Mr. Mukherjee said complex issues are being reduced to binary opposites, resulting in polarization.<br/><br/>Highlighting the role of media in a democracy, the President said democracy without a free press is like a blank piece of paper. He added that fact-checking plays one of the significant roles in media. <br/><br/>He also said the facts must be never sacrificed to elevate opinion into truth when opinions are deeply divided, and objectivity is at a premium. <br/><br/>On paid news, the President said the concentration of media power in hands of a few is dangerous.