NSA Ajit Doval had told a gathering of ascetics, sages and priests at Parmarth Niketan spiritual centre in Rishikesh that India had never gone to war with any country for selfish reasons

New Delhi: Ajit Doval’s office has clarified that the National Security Advisor’s remarks last weekend at Rishikesh have been taken out of context by a section of the media and were presented as issuing a threat to China.

The NSA's office told a news agency that Doval made his "comments more in the civilisational context and not directed against anyone in the current context as some channels are doing."

NSA Doval had addressed ascetics, sages and priests at Parmarth Niketan spiritual centre in Hindi. His office told IANS that instead of transliterating the comments, TV news channels directly translated the remarks into English and also played edited video clips without showing the context of the interaction.

Doval had told the gathering that India had never gone to war with any country for selfish reasons. He called on spiritual gurus to spread the message on Indian civilisational values of peace and spirituality.

Parmarth Niketan is the largest spiritual centre on the banks of River Ganga in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand. 

In his address, the NSA highlighted India's spiritual history and its strength and also mentioned Swami Vivekananda’s philosophy.

"States are bound by physical dimensions but the nation is an emotional bond which is bound by the common thread of spirituality and culture in which there is a collective sense of pride," Doval said, while speaking on national security.

Doval, reacting to some remarks made during the event, said the State does not choose to go to war with anyone just because a desire has been expressed by some sections of the society.

"India has never gone to war with anyone for selfish reasons. The state will fight both within and outside only when the threat is imminent. We will not go to war for our selfish reasons," he stressed.

In its history, India has gone to war with Pakistan four times (1947, 1965, 1971 and 1999) and once with China (1962). India did not initiate any of these wars.