Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar has said he is surprised that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given "religious" slogans during campaigning in Karnataka, which votes on May 10.

Speaking to a regional news channel, Pawar said, "I am surprised that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given religious slogans during campaigning for the Karnataka assembly elections. We have accepted the concept of secularism. When you take up a religion or religious issue in an election, it creates a different type of environment and it is not a good thing."