Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 20

Refraining from naming the Taliban, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the destructive forces can dominate through terror only temporarily, as humnanity always triumphs in the end.

He was speaking virtually while inaugurating various projects at the famous Somnath temple in Gujarat.

“Somnath temple was destroyed many times, idols were desecrated and attempts made to wipe out its existence. But it came up in its full glory after every attack, which gives self-confidence to us all,” Modi said. “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 said.

The projects inaugurated by Modi, who is also the chairman of the trust that manages the temple, consisted of the Somnath Promenade, Somnath Exhibition Centre and reconstructed temple precinct of Old (Juna) Somnath. The PM also laid the foundation stone of Shree Parvati Temple.

Former Deputy PM Lal Krishan Advani, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, along with the Gujarat CM and the Deputy CM, were present on the occasion.

The PM also dwelled upon the national and international potential of tourism, including spiritual tourism. “The country moved from the 65th place in 2013 on Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index to the 34th place in 2019,” he said.