New Delhi: Expressing concern over the "onslaught on the country's secular content", eminent social and political personalities on November 28 came together to form a People's Integration Council (PIC).

"It is neither a political body, nor do we have a political overtone to it. It is a part of the national effort to strengthen the unity and integrity of the country against the onslaught on its secular content," senior Congress leader and co- convenor of the PIC Arjun Singh told reporters.

Noting that the National Integration Council (NIC), a forum to address the grievances of all sections of the society, has "not been convened" for the last 10 years, Singh said the first convention of PIC to be held on January 18-19 would deliberate on various issues related to communal, caste and class tensions and how to tackle them.

"The NIC is virtually defunct and the government has neither convened it nor reconstituted it, when it is most needed," Communist Party of India - Marxist (CPM) leader Sitaram Yechuri said.

He said in the aftermath of the "genocide in Gujarat", the secular and Democratic values of the Indian Constitution have been under severe strain.

"Recognising this, eminent personalities across the country have come forward to strengthen the bonds of commonality in our diverse society," he said.

The co-convenors of the PIC include veteran Ghandhian and social worker Nirmala Deshpande, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Laloo Prasad Yadav, film director Shyam Benegal and Congress leader Ahmed Patel, along with five members of the existing NIC.

PTI