India, Jan. 12 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said India needs to be alert, united and strong to defeat the forces that are still active amongst us even after seven decades of Independence who opposed Sanatan Dharma sentiments including reconstruction of Somnath temple.

Modi was addressing a large gathering at Somnath Swabhiman Parv to mark the resilience of Indian civilisation, symbolised by the rebuilding of the Somnath temple, which was repeatedly ravaged by foreign invaders beginning with Mahmud of Ghazni's attack in the year 1026. PM noted Somnath's history of 1,000 years is not that of destruction and defeat, but of victory and reconstruction.

Modi led a Shaurya Yatra, a ceremonial procession organised to honour those w...