Addressing a massive Dussehra gathering at the Aishbagh Ram Leela ground here, Modi said terrorism in all forms was anti-humanity.
It was the prime minister’s first public speech after his claim of “surgical strikes” by the Indian army at “militant launch pads” on September 29.
He made no direct reference to the surgical strikes or to any country.
“Those who spread terrorism need to be annihilated and those who aid terrorism will not be spared either,” Modi said in a speech laced with references to Hindu religion.
Modi said India was a country that respected both Krishna who led the Pandavas in the war of Mahabharata and Mahatma Gandhi who propagated non-violence.
“We are the people who go from yuddha (war) to Buddha (peace). Sometimes war is necessary, but our path is not that of war, but that of Buddha.
“We create balance... I hope the path shown by Buddha will be our final path,” Modi said.
“If a country of 1.25 crore keeps an eye on every terrorist activity, terrorists will never succeed,” Modi said to loud cheers.
He said decades ago when India discussed terrorism, nobody paid heed.
The Bharatiya Janata Party leader recalled how during a visit to the US years ago, American officials argued that terrorism was a law and order problem.
But all that changed after the September 11, 2001 attacks in the US and the 2008 Mumbai carnage that left 166 people dead.
“Terrorism knows no religion, no boundaries,” he said.
The army raids are seen as a direct military response to the attack last month on an army base in Uri in Kashmir, in which 19 soldiers were killed by militants.
Modi also urged people to fight social evils like corruption and filthiness, saying they too are multi-headed like Ravana.
He said one must destroy all evils from within.
“Social evils like corruption, filthiness and others are like Ravana... they are to be done away with,” he said.
He also called upon people to save the girl child and said that there should not be any discrimination against them.
Opponents have denounced Modi’s relocation to Lucknow for the Dussehra festival as a blatantly political exercise ahead of next year’s election in Uttar Pradesh.
Before Modi’s speech, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who is also the parliamentarian from Lucknow, told the audience: “The PM has proved to the world that India is not weak,” referring to the cross-border strikes.