India has never coveted any country's land: PM

New Delhi, Oct 2: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said India has never coveted any territory or attacked a country but made sacrifices for the freedom of others.

"India has never coveted any territory; never attacked another country. Instead, thousands of Indians gave their lives in the World War I," Modi said after inaugurating the Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra, a state-of-the-art complex dedicated to overseas Indians.

"In the last two years, you have seen how the central government rescued people from conflict situations, not just Indians but foreigners too." 

"On humanitarian issues, the Ministry of External Affairs has created a special niche for itself," Modi added.

The Prime Minister's remarks came amid deteriorating India-Pakistan ties and escalating border tension after the September 18 terror attack in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 19 Indian soldiers.

"Humanity is a principal inspiration for us and the world has acknowledged this not only due to our heritage but on account of our actions," said Modi.