"Recent tragic events in Orissa, Karnataka and Assam have pained all right thinking persons. There are clashes between Hindus, Christians, Muslims and Tribal groups. An atmosphere of hatred and violence is being artificially generated.

"There are forces deliberately encouraging such tendencies and also spawning militant outfits who engage in irrational violence. These need to be firmly dealt with. There is, at the same time, real need for better understanding of the forces at work," he said in his opening remarks at the National Integration Council meeting.

On terrorism, which was included at the last minute in the agenda of the meeting after BJP Chief Ministers made a demand, he said that there can be no compromise with terrorism and terrorists have to be dealt with firmly.

"At the same time, it is important that in trying to counter terrorism, wrong methods and means are not adopted. Any impression that any community or sections amongst them are being targeted or that some kind of profiling is being attempted should be avoided. This vital, as otherwise, it could lead a major polarization in society," Singh said.

Among those in the audience were Cabinet Ministers, Chief Ministers, leaders of national and state parties including Sonia Gandhi, Rajnath Singh and eminent personalities from various walks of life.

Chief Ministers of Orissa and Karnataka Naveen Patnaik and B S Yeddyurappa and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi were among those present at the day long meeting.

The Prime Minister appeared to be doing a balancing act by referring to the recent ethnic violence in Assam along with the attack on Christians in the NDA-ruled Karnataka and Orissa but made it clear that "the process of governance needs to be strengthened and the rule of law maintained, but in a manner that brings hope and succour to the poor and needy".

Against demands from UPA for imposition of President's rule in Orissa and a ban on Hindu outfit Bajrang Dal and VHP, Singh said those who threaten communal harmony, integrity and peaceful coexistence deserved very deterrent punishment.

"In doing so, we need to be bound by the framework of our Constitution and the political democratic process that enables us to reconcile differences through dialogue. We should not be provoked to suspend or subvert a democratic process in the search for solutions," he said.