NEW DELHI, Aug 20: In the aftermath of the Taliban sweeping power in Afghanistan, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi said while “destructive and terror forces” might be dominant for some time, their existence was not permanent.
In a virtual address on Friday, Modi cited the example of the historic Somnath temple in Gujarat, which despite being torn down several times over centuries, has managed to stand the test of time.
“This temple was destroyed, its statues broken and attempts have been made to destroy the sculptures as well, but it resurrected again as many times as it was razed. It won the test of time standing back up again and again because terrorism cannot suppress the faith,” he observed in remarks that have come after the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan.
The Prime Minister was laying the foundation stone of several upcoming projects in the Somnath temple complex including Somnath Promenade, Somnath Exhibition Centre, Parvati Temple and reconstructed temple precinct of Old (Juna) Somnath.
“Forces that strive for destruction and those who follow the ideology of creating empires out of terror can dominate for some time, but their existence is never permanent as they cannot suppress humanity forever,” he added.
Modi stressed on the importance of religious tourism in the country. “This will also provide employment to youth. They (youth) will also get knowledge about our past. Faith can’t be crushed from terror. We should learn from the past,” he said.
He went on to share his vision to create a “new India” with the legacy of the country’s history. He said the Ram Temple, currently under construction in Ayodhya, was a strong pillar of this new India.
(Manas Dasgupta)