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PM Narendra Modi has said that India has given spiritualism to the world but not communalism. Spiritualism can resolve all problems, said the PM underlining his point by invoking former President APJ Abdul Kalam. Modi regretted for people of India not being understood well by the World. At the same time Modi praised the religious heads as well as saints for their contribution to the legacy of India. These comments from PM come in the wake of intolerance debate in India.

While addressing at a book release event via video conferencing, the PM said, "India is a country, which has not tried to bind the world in a particular sect... We are the people whom the world has probably not understood in the manner in which we should have been understood."

"India has given the world neither community nor communalism. Our saints and sages and traditions have given the world spiritualism and not communalism," THE PM said.

He added that sect leads to problems sometimes, while spiritualism resolves the same. These comments from PM have assumed significance as they come against the 'intolerance debate' backdrop besides allegations concerning growing communalism in India.

"Saints, hermits and religious leaders have blessed the world with spirituality, a legacy in which our former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam believed and said that the problems of human beings can be neutralised by the spiritualisation of mankind," the PM said.

Modi described himself as a "great social reformer and spiritual leader", while addressing the event marking a book release. The book was written by Jain Acharya Ratnasundersuriswarji Maharaj.

-Sumana