Terming the terror strikes in Paris as an “attack on humanity”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday yet again asked the United Nations to define terrorism before it is too late so that the world knows who is backing terror and who is against it.
India strongly condemned the terror attacks with President Pranab Mukherjee and PM Modi pledging the country’s solidarity with France in its hour of crisis.
Expressing anguish over the strikes, President Mukherjee said, “India stands firmly by France, my heart goes out to its people.”
The Prime Minister, who concluded his 3-day visit to the UK on Saturday, initially tweeted: “News from Paris is anguishing & dreadful. Prayers with families of the deceased. We are united with people of France in this tragic hour.”
later at a ceremony to unveil the statue of 12th century Indian philosopher Basaveshwara, Modi said, “What happened in Paris yesterday is an attack on humanity and the world should accept that it is not an attack on Paris, not an attack on French citizens, not an attack on France but an attack on humanity. It is an attack on humanitarian principles that is why all the powers that believe in humanity have to come together to condemn such attacks. All pro-humanity forces should unite to defeat anti-humanity forces. They will have to fulfil their responsibilities.”
“It is unfortunate that I am unveiling the statue of Basaveshwara...At a time when my heart is filled with shock,” he said even as he urged the
UN member-states to pass the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism at the earliest.
“I would like the UN that is celebrating its 70th anniversary to not waste any time in defining terrorism...The proposal is in front of it...So that we get to know that who is siding with terrorism, who is helping terrorism, who is backing terrorism and who is being targeted by terrorism, who are against terrorism and who for humanity are ready to sacrifice.”
Modi had raised the issue at the UN in September too and lamented that despite 70 years of its existence, the UN failed to define terrorism.
In a separate statement, Modi strongly condemned the attacks and stated that India stands firm with French people.”I condemn the barbaric terrorist attacks in Paris in the strongest terms. More than hundred people lost their lives while they were doing what they loved, or spending time with their loved
ones,” Modi said.
“We feel the shock, pain and outrage of the people of France. India stands firmly with the great people of France in dealing with this tragedy. And we must stand together as humanity in combating the
major global threat of our times and to uphold our values and our way of life,” he said.