India’s National Security Advisor on Sunday said that India is a “civilised” state which has existed since times. Speaking at Parmarth Niketan in Uttarakhand, he highlighted how India as “Rastra” or civilization existed, but as a “Rajya” or nation came to being in 1947.

The NSA said, “Our state, India is a civilised state, its not based on religion, not based on language, nor ethnicity but on a civilization.”

He lauded India’s saints and the role the played in nation building and gave examples of how Jews as a civilization existed for 2000 years and got a state in 1947 while civilizations like Egypt disappeared.

Though he did not mention any regional tensions, he said, “To save the nation is important….we will fight only where we are getting threats” he said, adding,” We will fight, on our soil and outside, but not for selfish motives or vested interest but for Parmarth or larger good.”

He also called on to spread the message of India’s spirituality.

Meanwhile, a video of Ajit Doval has surfaced in which he can be seen and heard asserting that India’s capability to fight on its own soil as well as on foreign soil.

In the video, uploaded on the Facebook page of a Rishikesh-based ashram called ‘Parmarth Niketan’, Doval can be seen sharing space with the head of the ashram, Chidanand Saraswati. The video is dated October 24 and titled ‘Special Ashtami and Navami Navaratri Pujan and Ganga Aarti’.

The NSA indicated that India could be at a place and time of India’s choosing. “We never became aggressors to serve our personal interests. We will surely fight, on our soil as well as on foreign soil, but not for our personal interests. But in the interests of Parmarth [spirituality],” Doval is heard saying in the video.

This comes on a day when RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat talked about China “encroaching” on Indian soil.