"The prevailing situation in the country does not indicate existence of alleged intolerance in the country," Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju told the Lok Sabha in a written reply.

The Minister said in the first month (January) of 2016, a total of 59 communal incidents took place in different parts of the country of which 12 were reported in Uttar Pradesh, 11 in Madhya Pradesh and seven in Bihar.

In 2015, a total of 751 communal incidents were reported in the country of which 155 took place in Uttar Pradesh, 105 each in Maharashtra and Karnataka, 71 in Bihar, 65 in Rajasthan and 55 in Gujarat.

Altogether 644 communal incidents were reported across India in 2014 and 823 in 2013.