Drop guns and participate in nation-building: Narendra Modi to Maoists

Chandua, Jharkhand: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday asked Maoists to drop guns and participate in nation-building, stressing that violence has no place in the country of Gautam Buddha and Mahatma Gandhi.

"There is no place for violence, which does no good to anyone. I appeal to those who have picked up the gun to shun it and pick up the plough. This is your country and work shoulder to shoulder in developing it," he said addressing a poll meeting at Chandua in Naxalite-hit Latehar district, where the rebels laid siege to a train a few years ago.

The Prime Minister urged the people to preserve democracy without letting anything to stain it.

Referring to the state, he said ,"If the Almighty has given any state abundance of wealth then it is Jharkhand" and lamented how it was being left poor by the "sin" committed by previous regimes.

The Centre, he said, was determined to take Jharkhand to new heights if the BJP was voted to power in the assembly elections.

AJSU president and former deputy chief minister Sudesh Mahto was present on the dais along with Modi. His party is contesting the elections in alliance with the BJP.

The first phase of polling in Jharkhand is scheduled on November 25 and the rest of the four phases will be held till December 20.

Counting will take place on December 23.