In a veiled attack on Narendra Modi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday asked people in Gujarat to defeat politicians indulging in divisive politics.

"We don't indulge in politics of dividing the society like the opposition parties... Such politics cannot benefit any political party for a longer period. Time has come that you people should rid Gujarat of such politics and don't let such people come to power who try to get votes by dividing our society and country," he said, without naming anyone.

The prime minister was addressing his first election rally in the state in Vansada. Singh said it was every state's responsibility to make the weaker sections of the society and minorities feel secure but the "Gujarat government was not giving much attention towards this side."

Noting that complaints in this regard have been coming from the people in the state and also its officials, he said, "It is very saddening that such an atmosphere is there in the state of Mahatma Gandhi".

The prime minister said the public health sector was not in a good state in Gujarat and new employment opportunities for the youth were also not being generated.

"Development in Gujarat is only for a few people. A big portion of the population here has remained untouched by this economic development. Because of the policies of the state government, there is an imbalance in the society," he said.