Author: Press Trust of India
Publication: Indian Express
Date: October 21, 2001
Somnath, Gujarat, October 31: Prime
Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on Wednesday made a subtle attack on Pakistan
President Pervez Musharraf for his recent statements and said nobody should
be under any illusion about India's unity and strength.
Vajpayee also asserted that Jammu
and Kashmir is an integral part of India and another partition of the country
will not be allowed.
Apparently referring to Musharraf's
remarks that he was not wearing bangles to convey a message of strength
to India, Vajpayee said: "Some people are under illusion when they see
our sisters wearing bangles. We don't speak this language. But in Punjab
where bangles are popular people also wear 'kada' (steel bangles) along
with other bangles. When the level of speech stoops to bangles, it is not
a sign of manliness," he said speaking at a function in Somnath to commemorate
50 years of rebuilding of Somnath temple.
Stating that India was strong, united
and prosperous enough today to face any challenge, Vajpayee without naming
anyone said "nobody should be under any illusion".
Vajpayee said despite such statements,
"we have kept our patience", armed forces are alert and "we have full faith
in our scientists and we compliment our troops".
Paying tributes to the role of Sardar
Patel in the post-independence era, the Prime Minister said that if not
for Patel the country would have been further divided into smaller principalities.
Vajpayee added that Patel had been
firm that there was no question of any further partition of the country
having already been divided along religious lines - India and Pakistan.
He said those who were demolishing idols would face the same fate as those
who had repeatedly attacked Somnath temple but had been unable to destroy
it as the temple was reconstructed after every raid by the invaders.
Vajpayee said Somnath symbolised
the national pride and culture of this country and that the government
would extend whatever possible assistance was needed to develop it into
a popular tourist attraction.
