Do not believe in divisive politics, Modi tells Muslim delegation

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday told a delegation of Muslim community leaders that he does not believe in politics "which seeks to divide people on communal lines" and will never speak "communal language".

Interacting with the delegation that included 30 leaders from the Muslim community led by All India Imam Organisation chief Umer Ahmed, Modi said that the "politics of majority and minority had caused a lot of damage to the country", said a PMO release.

He said that employment and development were solution to all problems and he was focused on delivering them.

He cited initiatives in skill development taken by the union government and the work done by him as Gujarat chief minister in fields such as education of the girl child, and revival of the kite industry.

"The prime minister appreciated the gesture of the leaders, to take time out to meet him, even on the busy festive occasion of Shab-e-Barat," the release said.

It said the delegation members appreciated Modi's leadership over the last one year, and said they wanted to forge a partnership for progress and development with the prime minister.

"They said that the Muslim community had rejected the divisive politics of vote-banks, and was interested in development," the release said, adding they lauded Modi "for his vision of Muslim youth with a Quran in one hand and a computer in the other".

They also congratulated him for the country's success in the adoption of the International Day of Yoga by the United Nations.

Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval were present on the occasion.

Modi had also met leaders of Muslim community in April this year.