India, May 11 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday used the occasion of the Somnath Amrit Mahotsav celebrations to attack the Opposition over what he called "appeasement" politics.

The Prime Minister invoked the reconstruction of the Somnath Temple, referring to the alleged resistance faced during the tenure of Congress leader and then-Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

Modi said the issue of national self-respect had often become a subject of political contestation in the country. "In our country, politics continues to be played even over matters concerning national self-respect. Somnath itself stands as the prime example of this," Modi said while addressing a gathering in Gujarat's Gir.

Referring to the rebuilding of the temple af...