Rajkot/Ahmedabad: Fresh from the BJP’s resounding victory in West Bengal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi faulted his opponents, accusing them of placing appeasement politics above national pride and cautioning citizens against divisive and narrow-minded political thinking.Participating in the Somnath Amrut Mahotsav marking 75 years of the temple’s reconstruction, Modi said the rebuilding of the ancient shrine symbolised India’s determination to reclaim its civilisational identity after centuries of repeated invasions and destruction. He alleged that even after Independence, genuine efforts to reconstruct the temple had faced resistance from the then PM Jawaharlal Nehru.The PM further alleged that “even today, there are forces in the country that give greater importance to appeasement than national pride.”Drawing a parallel with the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, he said similar opposition and protests had been witnessed there as well.“We must remain alert to such mindsets and stay away from narrow-minded politics. India has to move forward with both vikas (development) and virasat (heritage),” Modi said.“Unfortunately, in India, issues linked to national pride too became entangled in politics. The reconstruction of the Somnath Temple itself is a prime example. After Independence, rebuilding Somnath should have been the nation’s foremost responsibility. But everyone knows the resistance that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Dr Rajendra Prasad (then President) faced from Nehruji in their efforts for its reconstruction,” he said.“It was Sardar Patel’s unwavering resolve and willpower that ensured the reconstruction of Somnath, helping India erase decades of historical humiliation,” Modi said.Modi said India had inherited a rich civilisational legacy, but for decades failed to fully recognise and celebrate its importance, a veiled swipe at the Congress.
