Have no illusions over Kashmir, PM tells Pak.

By Manas Dasgupta

SOMNATH (GUJARAT), OCT. 31. The Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, today asked Pakistan not to harbour any illusion that it would ever be able to dismember Kashmir from India.

In an obvious reference to the Pakistan President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf's recent statement on ``chhudiyan'' (bangles), Mr. Vajpayee said ``some people'' harboured an illusion that India was weak and could be dictated terms. ``They get such ideas from seeing our women wearing bangles, but they forget that with the bangles also come `steel Kada,' the symbol of brave warriors, among the people in Punjab.''

He said India's patience and love for peace were often misread as its weakness. ``Let there be no such disillusion, India today is strong, united, progressive and ready to face any challenge. We will never accept another division of the country.'' He said the Army was on high alert, the scientists engaged in their jobs and the country's youth ever-prepared to meet any threat.

Mr. Vajpayee was addressing a public meeting here on the occasion of the completion of the golden jubilee celebrations of the reconstructed Somnath temple, coinciding with the 126th birth anniversary of the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the main architect of rebuilding the ancient temple from its ruins. Mr. Vajpayee also laid the foundation for the ``Morarji Desai ghat,'' where the ashes of the former Prime Minister was immersed in the Arabian Sea, and inaugurated a drinking water supply scheme for the temple town in Junagadh district in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat.

The Union Home Minister, Mr. L. K. Advani, who is also a member of the Somnath temple trust, the Textiles Minister, Mr. Kashiram Rana, the Chief Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi, the Union Ministers of State, Dr. Vallabh Kathiriya, (Heavy Industries), and Mr. Harin Pathak (Defence), and the State unit president of the ruling BJP, Mr. Rajendrasinh Rana, were among those present.

Reminding the people that the Somnath temple was a symbol of the country's culture, prosperity and national self- respect, Mr. Vajpayee said the present terrorist elements resembled closely those who repeatedly attacked and looted the temple in the past. ``But like the Somnath temple was rebuilt amidst its ruins and the attackers were defeated, those who are trying to dismember India now would also be repulsed and the country would remain a strong and united nation,'' he said.

Reiterating that Kashmir was an integral part of the country, the Prime Minister said nothing could change its status any more. ``We have once accepted the painful and unfortunate partition of the country, a result of political manoeuvring by the foreign rulers, but we will not allow another division under any circumstances,'' he said.

Mr. Vajpayee paid rich tributes to the memory of Sardar Patel and said that without him the country would perhaps never have been able to overcome the British Government's game to divide India in small princely states and become a strong nation. ``We will have to defend our unity with all our mite as a true tribute to the Sardar,'' he added.

The Prime Minister announced that Somnath would soon be linked by a broad gauge railway line. He also promised Central assistance to develop the entire Somnath complex and other pilgrim and tourist spots in the State, including Porbandar, birth place of Mahatma Gandhi, Dwaraka, Palitana, the famous Gir lion sanctuary and other centres.

Mr. Modi, while welcoming the guests, said the Prime Minister last week sanctioned Rs. 2 crores for repairs of Bet- Dwaraka, ancient capital city of Lord Krishna, damaged in the January 26 earthquake.

Mr. Vajpayee complimented the ``indomitable spirit'' of the people of Gujarat and the way they were ``fighting back on their own'' to rebuild the State from the rubble caused by the earthquake. It was the same spirit that was seen in the Sardar's character that guided him to bring about the unity of the country against heavy odds, he added.

While Mr. Advani also paid tributes to the Sardar, describing the Somnath temple as the symbol of the country's cultural resurrection and unity, Mr. Modi announced the State Government's decision to set up a ``Sanskrit University'' in Somnath as envisaged by Sardar Patel more than 50 years ago.

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