India Today News
National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Tuesday said that terrorism is not linked to any religion. He said India believes in promoting tolerance, dialogue and cooperation to deal with the challenges. Doval said that India has gone all out against terrorism to preserve the security and stability of the border areas.
“India has been leading the fight – the fight against individuals and organizations – who are promoting extremism, narcotics and terrorism,” Doval said. He also called for spiritual leaders to counter extremists.
Doval credited the spiritual connection of Hinduism and Islam with bringing people together and developing a social and intellectual understanding of each other.
As an inclusive democracy, India has successfully managed to provide space for all its citizens, regardless of their religious, ethnic or cultural backgrounds. This philosophy of cooperation and dialogue in Islam has over the centuries merged seamlessly with the ancient Hindu civilizational tradition of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – The World is One Family,” Doval said.
NSA Doval said PM Modi believes there is no more age of war. “In today’s world, with complex geopolitical challenges confronting us, religion has to become a beckoning light for humanity to usher in an era of peace and harmony. Our differences will have to take a backseat,” he said.
Doval’s remarks came during a speech on Tuesday, after he met Dr Mohammad Bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, Secretary General, Muslim World League. The Indian Muslim population is almost equal to the combined population of around 33 member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
“Despite having around 200 million Muslims, the involvement of Indian citizens in global terrorism has been incredibly low,” said Doval, emphasizing that terrorism is not linked to one religion.
NSA Doval recollected the attack on the Grand Mosque in Mecca in 1979 to underscore the need for counter-terrorism.
“India has also been a victim of terrorism for many decades. In the war against terror, even in the face of grave provocations, India has steadfastly upheld the rule of law, rights of its citizens and protection of human values and rights,” he said.
Doval called India an extremely responsible power, and said that when a hot pursuit against terrorist havens was felt, India has gone “all out to destroy terrorism in our national interest”.
