Taking a swipe at ''so-called secular forces'', noted Urdu poet and lyricist Javed Akhtar has said they are inciting minority fundamentalism for political gains.

''It is not just the BJP which is responsible for spreading of communalism. Let us face the fact...The so-called secular parties have long been adding fuel to the fire and strengthening the majority communalism by triggering minority fundamentalism,'' Akhtar said inaugurating an exhibition, 'In Defence of Democracy', here yesterday.

While slamming the Sangh Parivar for dividing society, the poet did not spare the Congress either.

'' The Congress is not a lesser evil when it comes to spreading communalism. The riots at Meerut, Maliyana, or for that matter Mumbai, occurred when the Congress, and not the BJP, was in power,'' he observed.

However, he expressed optimism that India's future was safe as the predominant mindset in the country was secular.

Akhtar laid empahasis on the need for people to force the political parties to prioritise the ''real issues''.

''People must give a clear message to the the parties that they are not going to be swayed by the politics of religion. They have to convey that a party which will address issues like education, health, infrastructure and water would come into power,'' he opined.

He said the exhibition was an earnest attempt to struggle against the communal forces and a vehicle to spread mass awareness.

The exhibition, whose inauguration coincided with the 13th anniversary of bringing down the disputed structure in Ayodhya, has 60 panels highlighting those aspects of from the Indian history and culture which talk of pluralism.

The exhibition is open upto December 11.