NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday emphasized the need to strengthen religious tourism in the country.
"We need to strengthen religious tourism. This also provide employment to youth. They will also get to know about our past," the PM said while inaugurating and laying the foundation stone of multiple projects in Gujarat's Somnath on Friday via video conferencing.
PM Modi said destructive and terror forces can become dominant for some time, but their existence is not permanent. "Forces that strive for destruction and those who follow the ideology of creating empires out of terror can dominate for some time, but their existence is never permanent as they cannot suppress humanity forever," he added.
"Somnath temple had been attacked several times over centuries and statues had been destroyed as well. However, it has risen again and again. Faith can't be crushed by terror," the PM said.
PM Modi remarks come in the wake of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.
Modi also said that India, which was at 65th position in 2013 in travel and tourism competitiveness index, jumped to 34th position in 2019.
Union home minister, Union tourism minister along with CM and Deputy CM of Gujarat were also present on the occasion.
Here are the key points:
The projects that were inaugurated today include the Somnath Promenade, Somnath Exhibition Centre, and the reconstructed temple precinct of Old (Juna) Somnath.The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone of Shree Parvati Temple during the event. The temple is proposed to be constructed with a total outlay of Rs 30 crore. This will include temple construction in Sompura Salats Style, development of Garbha Griha and Nritya Mandap.The Somnath Promenade has been developed under Prashad (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive) Scheme at a total cost of over ? 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. This will include temple construction in Sompura Salats Style, development of Garbha Griha and Nritya Mandap.(With inputs from agencies)
