Taking a jibe at the Prime Minister, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury likened Modi's speech to a "sermon". He expressed fears that Modi allegedly not giving any assurance on "intolerance" could also be a "license for continuance of activities driving deeper communal hatred".
"The PM could have at least assured the House that the law will be pursued and all those who have broken it, by deeds, action, instigation or urgings of 'Go to Pakistan' will feel the full force of the law.
"Dangerously, this could also be a licence for continuance of such activities to drive deeper the communal hatred and divide that this BJP-led government has been patronising so far," he said.
The CPI(M) general secretary said Modi addressed none of the specific issues raised by 50 MPs who participated in the debate and added the same reflected "disconnect" between reality and government's response in this regard.
More From This Section
"There could be two reasons for this. First, that they are living in a bubble and an ivory tower from where they cannot even see ground-level concerns about what is happening to Constitutional values and social fabric and voices raised by all manner of citizens, in their own ways," he claimed.
"But on the ground, their people, Ministers, MPs, MLAs and 'fringe' groups will continue to do as they please and spread ill-will, to polarise," he charged.
Amid the 'intolerance' debate, Modi today said any incident of "atrocity" is a "blot" on the society as well as nation whose "pain" should be felt by all and asserted that unity and harmony is the only way to take the country forward.
Modi also underlined the 'mantra of ekta', saying there can be "many excuses for disintegration" in a diverse country like India but ways should be explored to keep the country united.