Sri Sri Ravishankar condemns bid to 'communalise' Nandigram conflict

Bangalore, Nov 23 (UNI) Spiritual leader and founder of the Art of Living Foundation Sri Sri Ravi Shankar today expressed serious concern over attempts to communalise the Nandigram conflict.

In a release here, he also condemned the riots in Kolkata on November 21, which he claimed were ''pre -planned''.

Ravishankar, who visited the affected areas in Nandigram recently, said in the release that the victims of the conflict were not confined one to the Muslim community, but Hindus also suffered equally.

Appealing to the people not to turn the 'Nandigram conflict' into a communal issue, he expressed his apprehensions over the communal polarisation that could happen in West Bengal as a result of the ''conspiracy'' to separate the minorities from the mainstream.

''The recent incidents appear to be a political ploy to form a separate political party by stoking the passions of the minorities,'' he added.

He said it was wrong to blame the Left Front Government of playing communal politics since it had always been ''blind'' to religion. In fact, the Left had been ''extra cautious'' not to play any communal politics.

Commenting on the violent protests over granting visa to Taslima Nasreen, he said India had a very tolerant culture and there was place for everybody. India had provided asylum to the Parsis, Jews, Tibetans and many others, who had sought refuge from hostilities and persecution.

''Communal elements should stop meddling with policies and procedures of the government,'' Ravishankar said.

UNI