Empires built using terror have temporary existence, says Prime Minister Narendra Modi

RAJKOT: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that destructive forces and people following the ideology of creating empires using terror as a tool have an ephemeral dominance and they cannot suppress humanity forever.
Modi’s comments come in the wake of Taliban’s stunningly rapid takeover of Afghanistan and the subsequent anarchy in the country, which has forced thousands people, petrified of the extremist group’s possible brutalities, to scamper for refuge in other countries.
The PM was speaking after virtually inaugurating several beautification projects at the famed Somnath temple.
He cited the example of repeated plundering of Somnath temple and how it survived every attack.
‘This temple is emblematic of the belief that truth can’t be defeated by falsehood and faith can’t be crushed by terror. The destructive powers and thinking that tries to establish an empire on the basis of terror may dominate temporarily, but its existence is never permanent. It cannot suppress humanity for a long time. This was true when some tyrants were plundering Somnath and it is equally true even today when the world is apprehensive of such ideologies,” he said without naming any country or terrorist organization.

Modi, who is also the chairman of Shree Somnath Trust, said, “This temple was demolished several times over several centuries in the past. Idols of deities were also desecrated. Attempts were made to erase its existence all together. But it came up again in its full glory every time it was destroyed.” Recalling the contribution of India’s ‘Iron Man’ Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in building the present Somnath temple, the PM also paid tributes to India’s first President Dr Rajendra Prasad and freedom fighter frm Gujarat Kanaiyalal Munshi who played pivotal roles in its construction. Modi inaugurated projects worth Rs 83 crore which included a 1.4-km long ‘Samudra Darshan’ promenade, a newlybuilt museum housing ancient artefacts and the renovated Juna Somnath temple (also called Ahilyabai Holkar Temple), besides performing the ground-breaking ceremony for a Parvati Temple.
The PM also laid emphasis on promoting spiritual tourism saying that as Indian people’s propensity for spiritualism has ensured the country remained united for centuries. Describing the connection between economy and development of spiritual tourism, Modi said, “Gujarat has closely witnessed the results of linking modernity with tourism with projects like SOU and transformation of Kutch. It was the demand of every time period that we look for new possibilities in religious tourism and strengthen the links between pilgrimage and local economy.” He also hailed India’s jump to 34 in 2019 from 65 in 2013 in the the World Travel and Tourism Competitive Index .