With Pakistan obviously in mind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that terrorism was being “incubated in India’s neighbourhood” and pressed for action without making any distinction against groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Taliban and ISIS who share the “same philosophy of hate, murder and killings”.
Addressing the joint sitting of US Congress in Washington, Modi said that terrorism had to be fought with “one voice” as he commended the American Parliament for sending out a clear message by refusing to “reward” those who preached and practiced terrorism for political gains, an apparent reference to the blocking of sale of 8 F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan.
Dressed in trademark white kurta pyjama and grey-coloured half-jacket, Modi spoke for 45 minutes.
Here are the highlights of his speech:
- Terrorism incubated in India’s neighbourhood, commend US Cong for sending clear message to those who preach terror for political gains
- Constraints of the past are behind us and foundations of the future firmly in place
- For us in India, to live in harmony with mother earth is a part of our ancient belief
- Those who believe in humanity must come together as one & speak against this menace in one voice. Terrorism must be delegitimised. But its(terrorism) philosophy is common, of hate, murder and violence
- Terrorism remains the biggest threat. From West of India’s border to Africa, it may go by different names,LeT,Taliban or ISIS
- India’s strong economy and growth rate of 7.6% per annum, is creating new opportunities for our mutual prosperity
- I see US as an indispensable partner. Many of you believe that a stronger & prosperous India is in America’s strategic interest
- My dream is to economically empower our billion citizens through many social and economic transformations
- SIRI tells us that India’s ancient heritage of Yoga has over 30 million practitioners in the USA. And, we have not yet claimed intellectual property right on Yoga
- We trade more with the US than with any other nation