Politics of appeasement biggest hurdle to country's growth: PM

The biggest obstacle to India's development is the politics of appeasement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday, cautioning that forces practising such politics tended to support "anti-national activities and could never contribute to the country's benefit.

Speaking at the Statue of Unity at Kevadia in Gujarat's Narmada district after paying tribute to Vallabhbhai Patel on his birth anniversary, Modi referred to the commitment to internal security displayed by India's first home minister and outlined measures implemented in the past nine years to confront national challenges and deprive destructive forces of the successes they once enjoyed.

"People who are attacking our country's unity, we need to recognise and understand these forces and be alert of them. Appeasement politics is the biggest hurdle in our country's progress. For the last many decades, those in appeasement politics, cannot see terrorism; its dreadfulness, its wickedness, is never visible to them," Modi said during the 30-minute speech, adding that those practising appeasement politics didn't hesitate in standing with the enemies of human values.

"They try to pose hurdle in investigations against terrorist activities and take a soft stand on anti-national elements. They even reach the courts to save terrorists. Such elements can never benefit the country or help in its progress," he added.