‘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 on the prevailing communal tension in the wake of the Dadri lynching incident, he referred to President Pranab Mukherjee’s speech, saying citizens should follow his message given on Wednesday on preserving the core civilisational values of diversity, tolerance and plurality. 

Modi though had been attacked by his political opponents for his silence on the unfortunate incident in Bisada village where a Muslim man was lynched over rumours of consuming beef.

“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 at Nawada in Bihar. “It is the unity, communal harmony, brotherhood and peace that will take the nation forward,” he added.

“Ignore irresponsible statements” he said, while asking people to ignore the “irresponsible” statements made by politicians, he said they were doing so for political interests 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,” Modi emphasised. Referring to the President’s remarks, he said, “there is no bigger guidance, there is no bigger message, no bigger direction.”

“Small time politicians are hell bent on making irresponsible statements for their political interests. You should ignore those statements. If you need to pay heed, it should be to the guidance given by the President,” Modi said. 

“Yesterday, the President showed the path. Whatever the head of the country of 125 crore people has said, there can be no bigger message, no bigger direction, no bigger inspiration,” he went on to add.

He said all countrymen should tread the path shown by the President and “only then can India meet the expectations that the world has from us.” 

Mukherjee, while addressing a function on Wednesday, had said, “I firmly believe that we cannot allow the core values of our civilisation to be wasted and the core values is what, over the years, the civilisation celebrated diversity, promoted and advocated tolerance, endurance and plurality.” The PM will address two more election meetings in Sasaram and Aurangabad on Friday before returning to Delhi.