Kolkata, Jan 7 (IANS): Not tolerating people's opinion is about lacking of power of thinking and harassing people is unacceptable, Nobel laureate Amartya Sen said here on Sunday.

"The present situation in the country must change," Sen, a noted economist, said.

According to Sen, many universities in the country are suffering, their freedom and autonomy is at stake and other institutions are also not at ease.

Asked about the intolerant reactions following actor Naseeruddin Shah's statement on India's prevalent intolerance, the veteran economist said: "He is being harassed in many ways and we will strongly protest against it".

The noted actor, "angry" about the rise of mob violence, had said "poison" has spread in the Indian society where at some places, the death of a cow is given more significance than of a police officer, an indirect reference to the recent Bulandshahr violence where a police officer was killed allegedly by cow vigilantes.

Looking forward to the general election, Sen said: "Even the journalists are losing freedom which is not acceptable. The election is approaching, let's see what happens".