NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said neither bullets nor brickbats will solve the Kashmir issue, only love will, "Security is our top priority," he told thousands packed into the landmark Red Fort in New Delhi on Tuesday as India marked the 70th anniversary of the end of British colonial rule.
Modi added that while "there is no question of being soft on terrorism", any "violence in the name of faith cannot be condoned".
According the Indian media, he made a special reference to Kashmir during his speech.
"Na goli se, na gaali se Kashmir ki samasya hal hogi (Neither bullets nor brickbats will solve the Kashmir issue)", Modi said, adding, "it will only be solved by love and by embracing all Kashmiris."
"I want to tell the youth of Kashmir and I've said this time and time again, come into the mainstream, you have a right to speak in a democracy," he said.
He added that his government is committed to restoring "the lost glory" of Kashmir and its status as 'heaven on earth'.
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