Somnath an example to world, reign of terror does not last: PM Modi

The projects inaugurated by the Prime Minister through video-conferencing include the Somnath Promenade, Somnath Exhibition Centre and reconstructed temple precinct of Old (Juna) Somnath, and he also laid the foundation stone for a Shree Parvati Temple.

"Faith cannot be suppressed by terror... This temple was demolished several times, the statues were broken, but as many times as it was demolished, it was resurrected again," the Prime Minister said.

"Somnath temple is an example and assurance for the world that the destroying forces, the ideology that builds empires based on terror, may dominate for some time in some period of time, but, its existence is never permanent, it cannot suppress humanity for long," Modi added.

The comments come days after the Taliban entered Kabul, and took over Afghanistan.

The event was also attended by veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Advani had taken out a 'Rath Yatra' in September-October of 1990 from Somnath to Ayodhya, to stir up support for the demand for the construction of a Ram temple at the spot of Babri Mosque. Modi was among the key organisers of the 'Yatra'. The mosque was demolished on December 6, 1992.

After years of court cases, on November 9, 2021, the Supreme Court ordered that the disputed land be handed over to a trust to build the Ram Temple.

The Prime Minister also mentioned the Ram Temple, and said the temple would be a "tower of light" of India's pride.

He also said that lessons of the past will help India build a course to its future.

The Somnath Promenade has been developed under PRASHAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive) Scheme at a total cost of over Rs. 47 crore. The Somnath Exhibition Centre, developed in the premises of ‘Tourist Facilitation Centre’, displays the exhibits from dismantled parts of old Somnath temple and its sculptures having Nagar style temple architecture of old Somnath.

The reconstructed temple precinct of Old (Juna) Somnath has been completed by Shree Somnath Trust with a total outlay of Rs. 3.5 crore.

This temple is also referred to as Ahilyabai Temple since it was built by Queen Ahilyabai of Indore, when she found that the old temple was in ruins. The entire old temple complex has been holistically redeveloped for the safety of pilgrims and with augmented capacity.

Shree Parvati Temple is proposed to be constructed with a total outlay of Rs. 30 crore.