Ahead of Maharashtra polls, Modi talks of UCC, 'ek hain toh safe hain'

EKTA NAGAR(Narmada): Ahead of the Maharashtra elections , PM Modi Thursday made a fervent pitch for national unity and a uniform civil code , even as he criticised his opponents, saying people need to be vigilant of a 'new model of urban Naxals ' whose sole agenda is to foment anarchy and destabilise the country.

Addressing the nation on Rashtriya Ekta Diwas, Sardar Patel's birth anniversary, at the Statue of Unity, Modi also said internal and external forces are trying to tarnish India's image by resorting to a slanderous campaign, seeing the country's growing global reputation.

And days after UP CM Yogi Adityanath remarked "batenge toh katenge" (if divided, we perish), which was endorsed by RSS, Modi said "urban Naxal groups ... twist the sentiment of 'Ek Hai To Safe Hai' into something negative".