PM breaks silence on Dadri, says Hindus, Muslims should fight poverty not each other

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday pitched for communal harmony and brotherhood in the country, saying Hindus and Muslims should work together to fight the common enemy of poverty and ignore "irresponsible" statements made by politicians, even if he himself makes any.

In his first comments amid communal overtones in the wake of Dadri lynching incident, he invoked President Pranab Mukherjee, saying the countrymen should follow his message on preserving the core civilisational values of diversity, tolerance and plurality.

"I have said it earlier also. Hindus should decide whether to fight Muslims or poverty. Muslims have to decide whether to fight Hindus or poverty....Both need to fight poverty together.... The country has to stay united," Modi said while addressing an election rally in Bihar’s Nawada.

"It is the unity, communal harmony, brotherhood and peace that will take the nation forward," he added.

Asking people to ignore the "irresponsible" statements made by politicians, he said they are doing so for politicalinterests and it should end.

"Some politicians are making irresponsible statements for political interests... Such statements should end... Do not pay attention to such statements, even if Modi himself makes any such statement," the PM emphasised.      

Referring to the President's remarks made on Wednesday, he said, "There is no bigger guidance, there is no bigger message, no bigger direction."

Image: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a rally in Bihar. Photograph: @ANI/Twitter

• Complete coverage: Battle for Bihar