Turning a blind eye to terrorism is a betrayal of all humanity says pm

Turning a blind eye to terrorism is a betrayal of all humanity says pm

In his address at the G-7 outreach session, Mr. Modi recalls Pahalgam terror incident by saying that it was a direct attack on the ‘soul, identity and dignity’ of every Indian; says India’s neighbourhood has become a breeding ground for terrorism.

India’s neighbourhood has become a breeding ground for terrorism and turning a blind eye towards the challenge would be a “betrayal of humanity”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told G-7 leaders on Wednesday, seeking action against Pakistan for its support to cross-border terrorism.

In an address at a G-7 outreach session here, Mr. Modi said the April 22 Pahalgam attack was a direct attack on the “soul, identity, and dignity” of every Indian, adding that any country that supported terrorism must be held accountable and made to pay the price.

The Prime Minister was addressing the G-7 outreach session on energy security on Tuesday.

“Terrorism is the enemy of humanity. It stands in opposition to all nations that uphold democratic values,” Mr. Modi said.

“Unfortunately, our own neighbourhood has become a breeding ground for terrorism.... For the sake of global peace and prosperity, our thinking and our policies must be extremely clear — any country that supports terrorism must be held accountable and made to pay the price,” he said.

Mr. Modi said, “On the one hand, we are quick to impose various sanctions based on our own preferences and interests. On the other hand, nations that openly support terrorism continue to be rewarded.”

The Prime Minister posed a few questions too. “Are we truly serious about addressing terrorism? Will we understand the true meaning of terrorism only when it knocks on our own doors? Can those who spread terror and those who suffer from it be weighed on the same scale? Are our global institutions at risk of losing their credibility?” he asked.

He called for decisive global action in dealing with terrorism.

“If we don’t take decisive action today against this terrorism that stands against humanity, history will never forgive us,” he said.

“Turning a blind eye towards terrorism for the sake of vested interests, or extending support to terror or terrorists, is a betrayal of all humanity,” he added.

‘No double standards’

The Prime Minister said there must be no place for double standards when it comes to terrorism.

“Recently, India faced a brutal and cowardly terrorist attack. The terrorist attack that took place on April 22 was not just an assault on Pahalgam, but a direct attack on the soul, identity, and dignity of every Indian,” he said.

“It was an assault on all humanity. I express my sincere gratitude to all friends who condemned the attack in the strongest terms,” he added.

Mr. Modi said ensuring energy security for future generations is “one of our biggest challenges”.

“We consider it not only a priority but also as a responsibility towards our citizens. Moving forward on the basic principles of availability, accessibility, affordability and acceptability, India has chosen the path of inclusive development.” He noted that it is essential for all countries to move forward together towards energy transition.

“We must move forward with the spirit of ‘not I, but us’... Unfortunately, the countries of the Global South are having to bear the maximum impact of uncertainty and conflicts. No matter where the tension is in the world, these countries are the first to be affected by food, fuel, fertiliser and financial crises,” Mr. Modi said.

“India considers it its responsibility to bring the priorities and concerns of the Global South to the world stage. We believe that as long as double standards persist in any form, sustainable and inclusive development of humanity shall remain out of reach,” he said. Underlining that India has always acted in the interest of humanity, rising above its own self-interest, Mr. Modi said India will continue to engage in dialogue and cooperation with the G7 on all matters in the future as well.

On the subjects of technology and artificial intelligence, Mr. Modi said, undoubtedly, AI is emerging as a powerful tool to enhance efficiency and foster innovation across all sectors.

However, AI itself is a highly energy-intensive technology, he pointed out. The growing energy consumption driven by AI data centres, and the increasing energy demands of today’s technology-driven societies can only be sustainably addressed through renewable energy sources.