Somnath slams BJP for fostering intolerance

Kolkata, Nov 3  Former Lok Sabha speaker Somnath Chatterjee on Tuesday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of promoting religious divide.

"Attempts are being made to create division among the people. And using that divide, an atmosphere of fear is being created. There is no doubt that those who are in power at the centre, if not directly, are indirectly assisting (this)," said Chatterjee.

He was speaking to the media after paying tributes to H.A. Halim, who served as the West Bengal assembly speaker for 29 years at a stretch - the longest stint by any presiding officer of a legislature in India.

The 80-year-old died at a nursing home here on Monday following cardiac arrest.