NATIONAL Council of Indian Culture (NCIC) president Surujdeo Mangaroo says negative comments about the use of the Divali Nagar site for a national day of prayer are dividing the nation. The NCIC is responsible for managing the site.

Mangaroo spoke at the launch of this years Divali Nagar at the site in Chaguanas on August 27. The Nagar will run for nine nights from October 11 to 19.

He was responding to strong objections raised to the site, identified as a predominantly Hindu cultural centre, being used by the Inter-Religious Organisation (IRO) to host a day of prayer on Independence Day.