Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called upon political parties to unite against divisive forces which try to create division in the society. He was addressing a gathering on the occasion of Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavna Award ceremony in New Delhi today.

Referring to the recent violence in Kishtwar town of Jammu and Kashmir Dr Singh said that lessons needed to be learnt from that so that there is no laxity in the efforts to stop communal forces.

On the occasion, the Congress President Sonia Gandhi and the Prime Minister jointly conferred the Sadbhavna Award for 2012 on Sarod maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan for his immense contribution in promoting communal harmony, peace and goodwill in the country.