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Pak should have no illusion about India’s strength: PM

Somnath, October 31
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today asked Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, who had recently made some bellicose statements, not to be under any illusion about India’s unity and strength and made it clear that another partition of the country would not be allowed.

Maintaining that India had kept patience despite such statements, he said “We have faith in our armed forces and scientists and are prepared to meet any eventuality. We are quite capable of defending the territorial integrity of the country.”

The Prime Minister was speaking at a function to commemorate the 50 years of rebuilding of the famous Somnath temple here. Earlier, he paid obeisance at the temple.

Mr Vajpayee also asserted that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and another partition of the country would not be allowed.

Apparently referring to General Musharraf’s remarks that he was not wearing bangles to convey a message of strength to India, Mr Vajpayee said, “Some people are under an 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.

Stating that India was strong, united and prosperous enough today to face any challenge, Mr Vajpayee, without naming anyone, said “nobody should be under any illusion”.

Mr Vajpayee made a reference to the menace of terrorism and said the Somnath temple was a saga of constant struggle and national pride. PTI