Terror being ‘incubated’ in India’s neighbourhood: Modi tells US Congress.
Washington : With Pakistan obviously in mind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said terrorism is being “incubated in India’s neighbourhood” and pressed for action without making any distinction between groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Taliban and the ISIS who share the “same philosophy of hate, murder and killings”.
In his address to the joint sitting of US Congress here, he said terrorism has to be fought with “one voice” as he commended the American Parliament for sending out a clear message by refusing to “reward” those who preach and practice terrorism for political gains.
The obvious allusion was to blocking of the sale of 8 F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan. In the course of his 45-minute speech, he covered all major aspects of the growing relationship between India and the US, particularly strategic ties and civil nuclear cooperation, and emphasised that the two countries should leave “constraints of the past” behind as the “foundations of the future are firmly in place”.
Dressed in trademark white kurta pyjama and grey-coloured half-jacket, Modi was warmly received by the American lawmakers who interrupted his address more than 40 times to hail him — a few times by giving him a standing ovation. When his predecessor Manmohan Singh addressed the US Congress in 2005, his speech
was applauded 33 times, according to Sanjay Baru, who was the Media Adviser to the then Prime Minister.
Emphasising that “terrorism must be delegitimized”, Modi said, “The need of the hour is for us to deepen our security cooperation.” He said the cooperation should be based on a policy that “isolates those who harbour, support and sponsor terrorists; that does not distinguish between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ terrorists; and that delinks religion from terrorism.”
The Prime Minister noted that both the countries have lost civilians and soldiers in combating terrorism and highlighted how the US stood by India in the aftermath of the terror attack in Mumbai in November 2008, which originated from Pakistan.
Observing that India-US “relationship is primed for a momentous future”, the Prime Minister said a strong partnership between the two countries can anchor peace, prosperity and stability from Asia to Africa and from Indian Ocean to the Pacific. “It can also help ensure security of the sea lanes of commerce and freedom of navigation on seas,” he said, adding India is already assuming its responsibilities in securing the Indian Ocean region.
Modi described the US as an “indispensable partner” of India and stated that a strong India is in the US’ strategic interest. “In every sector of India’s forward march, I see the US as an indispensable partner,” the PM said in his much anticipated speech.
“Many of you also believe that a stronger and prosperous India is in America’s strategic interest,” he said. Modi is the fifth Indian Prime Minister to address the US Congress after Rajiv Gandhi, P.V. Narasimha Rao, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh.
It is estimated that more Americans bend for yoga than to throw a curve ball. And, no Mr. Speaker, we have not yet claimed intellectual property right on Yoga.
CONSTITUTION IS MY HOLY BOOK: PM MODI
WASHINGTON: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday defended India’s human rights record, saying for his government, the Constitution is the “real holy book” that provides freedom of faith and speech to all citizens regardless of their background.
“India lives as one; India grows as one and India celebrates as one,” Modi said in his address to a joint meeting of the US Congress at the invitation of the Speaker of the US House of Representatives.
“For my government, the Constitution is its real holy book. And, in that holy book, freedom of faith, speech and franchise, and equality of all citizens, regardless of background, are enshrined as fundamental rights,” Modi said in his 45-minute long speech. His remarks came against the backdrop of the Congress-mandated US Commission for International Religious Freedom’s annual report that claimed religious freedom in India was in a “negative trajectory” in 2015 as religious tolerance “deteriorated” and religious freedom violations “increased”.
“I am informed that the working of the U.S. Congress is harmonious. I am also told that you are well-known for your bipartisanship. Well, you are not alone. Time and again, I have also witnessed a similar spirit in the Indian Parliament, especially in our Upper House.”
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Washington: A top Republican Senator has asked his colleagues in the Senate to join him in opposing the sale of eight nuclear-capable F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan, saying
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