"The Prime Minister has skirted the real issue. He has appealed to Hindus and Muslims to fight against poverty...By this statement, he has not condemned Dadri incident and those in BJP playing the communal card on the issue," party spokesperson R P N Singh said.
Asked about his reaction on the Prime Minister's statement, Singh said "why can't the PM ask Hindus and Muslims to live in peace" and deplore those MLAs, MPs, party office bearers and Union Ministers who continue to spread communal venom.
In his first comments amid communal overtones in the wake of Dadri lynching incident, he invoked President Pranab Mukherjee, saying the countrymen should follow his message given yesterday on preserving the core civilisational values of diversity, tolerance and plurality.
"I have said it earlier also. Hindus should decide whether to fight Muslims or poverty. Muslims have to decide whether to fight Hindus or poverty...Both need to fight poverty together...The country has to stay united," Modi said.