Hoshiarpur, May 23 -- Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of taking up divisive politics, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Thursday said he (Modi) was talking about caste and 'mangalsutra' instead of speaking about genuine issues in his election speeches.

Badal, who addressed rallies in Mukerian, Dasuya, Tanda and Sham Chaurasi in favour of party candidate Sohan Singh Thandal, said, "The level of political discourse has gone down to claims that mangalsutras will be snatched from Hindu women and given to Muslims and that taps and tube well motors will be uprooted if the BJP doesn't come to power."

He also said the BJP had changed dramatically after the Atal Bihari Vajpayee era.

Targeting the Congress, Sukhbir...