India has never gone to war for selfish reasons: NSA Doval

By Aarti Tikoo Singh New Delhi/Rishikesh, Oct 26 : National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has said that India has never gone to war with anyone for selfish reasons and urged spiritual gurus to spread the Indian civilisational values of peace and spirituality around the world.
Addressing ascetics, sages and priests at Parmarth Niketan, the largest spiritual centre on the banks of the river Ganga in Rishikesh on Saturday, he recalled the strength of India’s spiritual history and the philosophy of Swami Vivekananda.
In his discourse on national security, Doval explained how “states are bound by physical dimensions but the nation is an emotional bond which is bound by the common thread of spirituality and culture in which there is a collective sense of pride”.
The role of Indian gurus and spiritual centres, he said, is to guard this larger sense of collective identity.
While responding to some of the comments made by the hosts at the centre, Doval said the state does not go to war with anyone just because some sections of society desire it.
“India has never gone to war with anyone for selfish reasons. The state will fight both within and outside only when the threat is imminent. We will not go to war for our selfish reasons,” he emphasised.