M A I N   N E W S

Nation united behind jawans, says Vajpayee

New Delhi, January 21
In the wake of tension prevailing along the Indo-Pak border, the nation stands unitedly behind its armed forces guarding the borders, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee said today.

“Our jawans are guarding the borders to protect us. The entire nation is standing unitedly behind them,” Mr Vajpayee said while addressing a congregation at Rakabganj Gurdwara here on the occasion of Guru Gobind Singh’s birth anniversary.

“No one is thinking of political parties or elections now,” he said.

The Prime Minister said Guru Gobind Singh had used both “shakti” (force) and “bhakti” (devotion) to protect the nation and religion.

“While he used ‘shakti’ to check oppression and violence, ‘bhakti’ was used to lead people on the path of peace and love,” he said.

Centuries have passed, but the message of the guru has “remained alive” in the hearts and minds of the people, Mr Vajpayee said. Mr Vajpayee ended his speech with “Bole so Nihal” — a spiritually uplifting cry which literally means “he will be spiritually uplifted who says — God’s truth is eternal”.

He presented a “rumala” or holy cloth and a canopy for Guru Granth Sahib and joined his hands in supplication as press photographers popped flash bulbs. PTI