Defeat all communal forces in polls: PM

In a barb at Modi, says communal forces must be opposed at all the time, at all levels, whether it is daily life or elections

Warning that communal forces could divide society, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said these needed to be defeated in the elections, remarks which could be seen as directed at BJP and Narendra Modi. “India is a vast modern nation. Along with several religions, it has several languages and sects. Many times, this diversity is exploited to create a divide among us,” he said at a function organised here to give the away Rajiv Gandhi Sadhbhavna Award to sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan.

The award was presented by Congress President Sonia Gandhi and the Prime Min- ister. “A few days back, there was communal violence in the country. From that we should take lessons that there should never be laxity in the efforts to stop communal forces,” Singh said. “We have to oppose such communal forces all the time, at all levels, whether it is daily life or elections,” he said.

The Prime Minister underlined that “it is the responsibility of all political parties, all sections of the society and duty of all of us to ensure that such efforts are defeated.”

Though Singh did not name anyone in particular, his comments could be seen as directed against Modi, BJP’s virtual face for the next Lok Sabha elections who is being viewed by Congress as a “divisive” figure.