Alluding to surgical strike, PM calls year’s Vijayadashami special

Being strong does not mean being against anyone. If we exercise for our strength, the neighbour need not worry (thinking) that it is to target him. I am exercising to strengthen myself and my health.

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi called this year’s Vijayadashami — the celebration of good over evil — as “very special” and quoted Jan Sangh founder Deen Dayal Upadhyay to articulate that a strong military was a prerequisite for a strong nation.

Amid a war of words over the surgical strike in PoK, Modi on Sunday said the “physical exercise” by an individual is for personal health and the “neighbour” need not get scared by this.

“This year’s Vijayadashami is very special for the country,” the Prime Minister said to a thunderous applause from the audience at a function at Vigyan Bhavan here.

In a veiled reference to Pakistan, Modi said, “Being strong does not mean being against anyone. If we exercise for our strength, the neighbour need not worry (thinking) that it is to target him. I am exercising to strengthen myself and my health.”

RSS general secretary Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi asked for strengthening India’s security and said the country’s pursuit for national security was inspired by the need to defend NARENDRA MODI, Prime Minister

itself rather than to defeat others. “India should be safe and secure. Its borders are posing a challenge and everyone has seen that this issue can be resolved too,” he said.

At the event, Modi also released a compendium of 15 books on the life and teachings of Upadhyay, whose birth centenary year is being celebrated by the BJP and the government.

“The biggest contribution of Deendayalji is organisationbased political parties and not just a party run by a handful of individuals. This was the identity of Jana Sangh and BJP,” Modi said, adding that it was due to the foundations laid by Upadhyay that one party (BJP) completed the journey from vipaksh (opposition) to vikalp (alternative) in a short span of time. ISLAMABAD: Needling India on the Kashmir unrest, Pakistan on Sunday said the death of a 13-year-old Kashmiri boy due to pellet injuries was the “worst example of state terrorism”. Condoling the death of Junaid Akhnoon, foreign office (FO), claimed the incident was part of “continued Indian atrocities” in Kashmir. “The cold-blooded murder is the worst example of state terrorism of the Indian government and is indeed deplorable,” it said in a press release.