New Delhi: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar raised said that there is an urgent need to promote communal harmony in the country as the society was vulnerable to communal elements that are infesting the society.
Speaking at an anti-communalism convention by the Third Front parties on Wednesday, Kumar said that the convention should take a strong message against communal forces that were threatening the religious tolerance in our society. "We will not tolerate communalism and this is the message of this convention. Unity in diversity is our strength, an attempt is being made to damage this," Kumar said in the convention held at Talkatora Stadium.
The JD (U) leader also referred to the riots witnessed in Muzaffarnagar to prove his point. "Muzzaffarnagar incident shows that there is a need to take steps to build communal harmony in the country. There is danger from communal forces," he said.
Without directly naming the BJP, the JD (U) leader accused politics based on religion. "Every where talks are on to take out religious processions and yatras. There is an attempt to bring conflict in the society," he said.
He urged for caution and said that "some people don't want this 'ganga-jamuni tehzeeb' to be intact".
The Bihar chief minister also blamed communal groups for the serial blasts in Patna. "There is a thorough probe being carried out. But communal groups are taking advantage of this. There is a threat of fascism as well," he said.
The Third Front parties aim to form a non-Congress, non-BJP government at the Centre on the plank of secularism. While, Left parties, the Samajwadi Party and the JDU are expected to attend the convention, the YSR Congress, the TMC and the BSP have decided to skip the meet.
Apart from the NCP, AIADMK, BJD and the Janta Dal Secular are also taking part in the meet. AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa has sent an emissary to attend the meet. Also attending the meet is Babulal Marandi of the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha. The Trinamool has decided not to be part of the convention due to the presence of Left in the meeting. Similarly, BSP has also ignored the meet as it will be attended by SP. The meet looks to provide an understanding between its members in order to form a coalition government after the general elections in 2014. However, the proposed Third Front is marred with several internal contradictions as some of its members are keeping their options open by associating themselves with national parties. The AIADMK, JDS, BJD are already in touch with the BJP.
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