By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
Days after Rahul Gandhi and CJP led protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday called for a united fight against forces that, he said, undermine the country’s honour, divide society and hate Indian culture, urging people to put the nation first.
Addressing a Vijayadashami gathering at a Dussehra ground in the national capital, Modi said the festival was an occasion to renew the country’s resolve to identify and defeat the enemies of Maa Bharati (Mother India).
“Those who hurt the country’s honour and dignity, those who divide society and those with a mindset that hates our culture are the enemies of the nation,” he said.
The remarks came amid heightened political tensions following protests against the Chief Election Commissioner. The speech was Modi’s first public statement since the protests, giving his call for national unity added political significance.
The Prime Minister urged people to come together with a commitment to put the nation first. He also expressed confidence that the vision of ‘Ram se Rashtra’ (from Lord Ram to the nation) and ‘Dev se Desh’ (from the divine to the nation), articulated during the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, would be fulfilled.
“Today, on the auspicious occasion of Vijayadashami, we must renew our resolve. We must identify the enemies of Maa Bharati and defeat them. Taking the pledge of ‘Nation First’, everyone must come together,” Modi said.
Vijayadashami marks the victory of good over evil and is traditionally celebrated with the burning of effigies of Ravana, Meghnad and Kumbhakarna.