BJP running person-centric campaign, playing divisive politics: PM Manmohan Singh

BHONGIR (AP): Tearing into BJP for "running a divisive campaign to derive political dividends", Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the opposition party's poll strategy is "centred around" only an individual and its promises can never be fulfilled.

He also defended the track record of UPA government at the Centre under him in combating corruption.

"BJP's election campaign is centred on one individual. They are making only high-sounding talks which are baseless. They are making such promises which they will never be able to fulfil," Singh said at a Congress rally at Bhongir in Nalgonda district in Telangana region.

"We should give more attention to national issues in Lok Sabha elections and one of the big national issues this time is: 'Should a government of such a party be formed which always worked for dividing the society; should your vote go to such a party which works for setting up a fight between one community with another?..." he said while hitting out at BJP.

"You must have heard statements of some BJP leaders in which they openly tried to create a divide in the society. Though BJP had tried to distance itself from such statements, I feel efforts to divide society is part of BJP's politics.

"It needs to be taken note that these statements came at such a time when elections (are) round the corner; there the BJP feels that divisive politics will benefit the party," the Prime Minister said.

Singh said the opposition party believed in "divisive politics" to derive political dividends.

Taking exception to BJP's attack on his government for "failing" to check corruption, the Prime Minister said the UPA regime has taken concrete measures like enacting Right to Information and the Lokpal.