Prime Minister cautions against attempts to divide society

Attempts were being made in some parts of the country to cause divisions in the name of religion, caste and community, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Thursday and noted that there was a need to follow the message of secularism given by former prime minister Indira Gandhi.

Addressing the gathering at a function to confer the Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration to renowned agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan here, Manmohan Singh said the late prime minister provided leadership to usher in the Green Revolution.

He said Indira Gandhi had faith in all those traditions which make the country great.

"Like other great leaders, her thinking was secular and liberal. Probably there was as much need to follow the path shown by her as it is now. Today, when attempts were being made to made in some parts of the country to cause divisions in the name of religion, caste and community, the message of Indiraji becomes all the more important," he said.

He lauded the efforts of Swaminathan to boost food production.

He added, "It will not be wrong to say that due to leadership of Indiraji and untiring efforts of Swaminathan, Green Revolution came and we have been able to bring the food security bill on its foundation."

Congress president Sonia Gandhi said Swaminathan played a key role in India's Green Revolution. She also cautioned against sectarian forces.