‘Appeasement of national pride’: PM Modi quotes Nehru on Somnath Amrit Mahotsav

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday accused the first Prime Minister of Jawaharlal Nehru “Putting appeasement ahead of national pride”, claiming he was “opposed” to the restoration of somnath temple. Prime Minister said in Somnath Amrit Mahotsav speech congress Thanks to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Dr. Rajendra Prasad for their contribution in the restoration of temples in Gujarat.“After our independence, one of the first priorities was to restore the Somnath temple. That is why Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Dr. Rajendra Prasad devoted so much effort to this cause. However, we all know the level of opposition he had to face from Nehruji. It was Sardar Sahab’s willpower that despite facing such fierce opposition, he remained unwavering in his determination to resolve Somnath,” he said.“As a result, the temple was rebuilt and the country washed away the shame that lasted for centuries. Unfortunately, there are still forces active in our country today who prioritize appeasement over national self-respect,” he added.He went on to slam the Congress for opposing the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya.“We have seen this during the construction of Ram temple as well. We have seen that even the construction of Ram temple is facing opposition. We have to be wary of this mentality. We have to combine development and heritage and move forward,” he said.Somnath Amrit Mahotsav commemorates the 75th anniversary of the inauguration of the restored Somnath Temple by Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India. earlier that day, Prime Minister Modi Roadshows were held.The event attracted large numbers of supporters who lined the route to greet the Prime Minister, with authorities deploying extensive security measures at key locations across the city.