New Delhi, Oct 11: Under attack from the Sangh Parivar over the government's failure to combat terrorism, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani tonight sought divine help for the second consecutive day to fight the menace by offering prayers to the demon slayer goddess Durga. Advani, accompanied by his wife Kamla, made floral offerings and 'aarti' to the deity at the puja pandal of the R K Puram puja samiti in south Delhi amidst the blowing of conch shells and chanting of vedic hymns.
Without directly naming terrorism or the attack on the government, Advani told the assembled devotees, "like Mahishasur (the demon the goddess slayed), there are many other 'asurs' and one person or the government alone cannot fight the menace. The whole society and nation will have to come together. We will win with the blessings of the goddess." He said all over the country there were religious festivals which brought the whole country together.
Festivals such as Ganesh Chaturthi and Durga Puja, which were earlier confined to Maharashtra and eastern India respectively, were today expanding and being celebrated all over the country, he said, adding "they all symbolise the victory of good over evil and truth over falsehood."
Taking a trip down memory memory lane, Advani said decades back he used to stay in R K Puram and it was here that he brought his wife after marriage. Advani had last night sought the goddess' blessings to fight the menace of terrorism after inaugurating the golden jubilee puja festival of the Karol Bagh Durga Puja samiti in central Delhi. Bureau Report