By IANS
New Delhi : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday urged Indian political parties as well as political and social leaders not to divide people “along narrow, sectarian lines”.
Making the appeal from the Red Fort on India’s 60th independence day, the prime minister said: “We fritter away our time on petty issues and pointless personal differences. I urge all political parties, all political and social leaders to resist the temptation to divide people along narrow, sectarian lines.
“Our strength is in our unity, despite our diversity; it is that unity which gave us our independence. It is that unity that gives us our strength as a nation.”
The prime minister also said: “We must have faith in our strength and confidence in our capabilities. Each of us has our individual identities. However every citizen must recognize that we are Indians first and last.”