Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday promised that his party, the Congress, would not "play politics" over the issue of terrorism.

While addressing a gathering in Jaipur in Rajasthan, the PM said, all political parties should join hands to curb the menace.

"Now terrorism is a very serious issue for the nation. The Centre will not spare any effort in fighting terror," he asserted.

"This is the time we all should rise above the considerations of religion, caste and region to join together in the fight against terror," Dr. Singh said.

"We may have different religions, speak different languages and may have adopted varying traditions but we are all Indians first," he said.

Earlier in the day Dr. Singh addressed a Congress rally in Hanumangarh, his first public address in the current Rajasthan Assembly election campaign.

On the other hand, the PM criticized the BJP Government in the State for "misuse and under-utilisation of Central funds in various welfare programmes including NREGA and Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan".