Vote secular parties to power

Indian Prime Minister Man-mohan Singh on Wednesday appealed to the Maharashtra electorate to vote the secular parties back to power to ensure rapid socio-economic development in the country.

Addressing a gathering of party workers on his maiden visit to the city after becoming the Prime Minister, he said that the country had been saved in the last Lok Sabha elections after the communal forces faced a crushing defeat, failing which it would have been difficult to free the country from the grasp of such forces.

The Prime Minister said that the communal forces, however, have not been able to accept defeat.

After stalling the UPA Gove-rnment's effort in carrying out some work in Parliament, "these forces had turned to astrologers and tantriks to find out ways and means how the Government could be toppled," Singh said.

The Opposition also did not resist from spreading rumours and predicting the fall of the UPA Government before September 26, he said.

However, these rumours of instability were a false illusion harboured by the Opposition, and if the Congress-led allied group is voted to power in Maharashtra, it will enable the state to experience a rapid social and economic development through harmonised relationship and coordination between the state and Centre, Singh added.