Modi as PM emboldened communal forces, says Sharad Pawar

Sharad Pawar

NCP president Sharad Pawar on Sunday expressed alarm over the rising communal incidents after Narendra Modi became the prime minister. At the NCP’s 15th Foundation Day function here, Pawar said, “The change of government in Delhi appears to have emboldened the communal forces who have started asserting themselves leading to growing incidents of communal conflict against minorities and dalits across Maharashtra.”

Citing an example of the killing of 28-year-old Mohsin Sadiq Shaikh in Pune, Pawar said, “It is evident that communal forces who were suppressed are now emerging out and willing to strike against those who do not subscribe to their ideology.”

The incidents of distorted pictures of national heroes or leaders revered by certain communities or parties are being circulated through social media, he said, adding “the messages along with images that are being circulated is to provoke the innocent people who start believing in such mischievous campaign aimed at creating a communal divide.”

Pawar said it is the duty of the state governments to guard the interest of the minorities and Dalits in their respective state to defeat such attempts of the communal forces and urged NCP workers to go extra mile to guard the well-being of the minorities and Dalits.