Modi's 'National Unity Day' message not clear: Gogoi

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Sunday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for "unity, peace and harmony" coinciding with the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel observed as 'National Unity Day' is not loud and clear.

"Modi's call for unity, peace and harmony would have been befitting if he could have stirred the nation by sending out a strong message to the fissiparous and divisive forces that the country's unity and integrity would not be allowed to be put at stake and that such inimical forces would be dealt with a stern hand," Gogoi said in a statement.

"Real respect and lasting tribute can be paid to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel only by sending out a message that intolerance would not be tolerated and that the country's unity and integrity now at stake, would not be allowed to be compromised with, come what may," he said.

Gogoi said at a time when divisive forces have reared their ugly heads and threatening to create cleavage in society, the prime minister has not risen to the occasion to forge the forces of unity to further strengthen the social fabric.

The chief minister added that the need of the hour was to bind together the forces of unity and integrity and to contain the fissiparous and divisive forces with an iron hand.

"...he (Modi) has to rise to the occasion by dealing firmly with the divisive forces and not through mere rhetoric," Gogoi said.