The Prime Minister appeared to be trying to combine the Sangh parivar's "nationalism" with ideologue Deendayal Upadhyaya's theory of " antyodaya" or reaching out to the last person.
Modi had earlier sounded this theme at an election rally in Rewari, Haryana, on September 16, 2013, and later in his Independence Day speech last year.
On Saturday, the Prime Minister was addressing a public meeting on the beach after arriving here for the two-day BJP national council meeting that ends today. He was launching the centenary celebrations for Upadhyaya, whom he often cites as his government's principal inspiration.
Modi began by chastising Pakistan for "sponsoring" terrorism in India and declared: "Hindustan has never bent nor will it ever bend. Terrorists will be defeated. Terrorists, open your ears wide and listen, this country will never forget this issue (the Uri killings)."
As he appeared close to echoing his party comrades' calls for war, however, he gave the subject a twist.
"I wish to tell the people of Pakistan that your rulers warned us of a thousand-year war to deceive you. I'm ready for the challenge. Our government in Delhi is ready to accept your challenge. Pakistan's people, India is ready to fight with you. Come forward, if you have the courage," he said.
"The fight between the two of us is to remove poverty. You will fight to remove poverty, I will fight to remove poverty and let us see who wins first."
The impact of Modi's attempt to balance the demands of his position, his eagerness to turn the economy around, and the "war" itch among BJP workers may be known at the party's national council today. The open deliberations during which members are allowed to air their views will reflect how his statements have been received.
On the beach, the mood fluctuated palpably. When Modi attacked Pakistan and extolled Indian soldiers' "sacrifices", the audience clapped and BJP politicians tweeted enthusiastically. When he spoke on poverty, the crowd seemed to switch off.
Modi eventually named Pakistan while announcing: "From here on, I wish to speak to Pakistan's awaam (people)."
He said: "I want to remind them that before 1947, your ancestors were part of our soil, you treated our soil as your homeland. Recalling your ancestors, I want to tell you that Pakistan has never held itself together. It could not keep East Bengal, it cannot hold Gilgit, Sind, the Pakhtuns, Balochistan. These are all part of you and yet you keep talking of Kashmir. The rulers are deceiving the people of Pakistan."
He urged the " awaam" to "ask your rulers why India exports software and Pakistan exports terrorists" and virtually urged them to revolt, saying: "The day is not far when Pakistanis will fight their rulers for encouraging terrorists."
After the meeting ended, Modi, who typically leaves the dais after a ritualistic wave to the crowd, hung around, speaking to the seated politicians. They included veterans L.K. Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi.
The Prime Minister had isolated Pakistan while describing how Asian countries were in general striving to turn the 21st century into Asia's century.
Without naming Pakistan, he said: "This country is out to drench Asia in blood. Its government is dedicated to fostering terrorism. Whenever there is a terror strike in Asia, the victim country holds this country culpable.... This country either sends terrorists trained on its soil to strike outside or gives permanent refuge to Osama bin Laden. Terrorism is humanity's enemy. Those committed to humanity have to join to fight it."
Referring to the Uri victims, he said: "The entire country was filled with anger when 18 of our jawans fell to terrorists from a neighbouring country."
As a morale booster, he recalled how India's soldiers had over the past four months foiled 17 terror strikes sponsored by a "neighbouring country".
"Never before were 110 terrorists killed in such a short span.... In one incident, 18 soldiers died; but think of the state of our country had the 17 previous attacks succeeded," he said.
"My beloved compatriots, our army jawans, our paramilitary forces, the CRPF, BSF, J&K police, the Northeast police, have won the combats and not just because they were armed. Arms are just toys for them. They won through sheer will power. Their will power lifts our morale - and our morale, the morale of 125 crore people, is the source of strength for our soldiers."
-The Telegraph Calcutta