Empires founded on terror don't last: Prime Minister 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.
The Prime Minister's comments - made at a virtual inauguration of beautification projects at Somnath temple - come in the wake of Taliban's stunningly rapid takeover of Afghanistan.
Modi 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 try to establish an empire on the basis of terror may dominate temporarily, but their existence is never permanent. They 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 organisation.
Recalling the contribution of Sardar Patel in building the present temple, Modi also paid tributes to India's first President Dr Rajendra Prasad and freedom fighter from Gujarat Kanaiyalal Munshi who played pivotal roles in its construction.