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No power should enforce its will on Iraq: Vajpayee

In an oblique reference to the United States, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Tuesday warned that no power should enforce its will on any country and said all issues relating to Iraq should be sorted out under the auspices of the United Nations.

He was addressing a Sikh congregation in New Delhi to mark the 533rd birth anniversary of Guru Nanak.

On the reported nuclear capabilities of Iraq, he said if it had "such weapons which endanger humanity, it [Iraq] should give them up on its own".

In a statement aimed at the United States administration, Vajpayee said everyone should understand that people should have a right to rule and choose their own leader. "No country should try to impose its will on any other country."

Vajpayee made these remarks while referring to Guru Nanak's visits to various parts of the world, including Baghdad.

"If terrorism, of any form, any colour or any hue, wants to impose itself on anyone else, it will not be allowed to succeed," Vajpayee said.

He said Guru Nanak's dream and vision of peace, friendship, equity and brotherhood gave 'an India of 100 crore' the strength to fight the challenge from terrorism or any quarter.

He asked the people to place themselves during the time of Guru Nanak 500 years ago. India, he said, was under the foreign rule and was being exploited and terrorised. Superstition and regressive ideologies were on the rise and everyone used to blame their fate, and not their deed [karma], for all evils.

It was in that age of darkness that the Guru 'ushered in an era of light by spreading the message of brotherhood, equity and fearlessness'.

Nanak, Vajpayee said, toured the entire country, met the common people, shared their woes and nurtured and nourished the feeling of camaraderie between all sections of society.

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