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PM criticises UN response to terrorism

In a sharp criticism of the UN, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said such a major global institution is failing to gauge the dangers of terrorism and warned that the world body risks losing i

In a sharp criticism of the UN, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said such a major global institution is failing to gauge the dangers of terrorism and warned that the world body risks losing its relevance if it does not act urgently to address the “new age challenge”.

He also slammed those talking about “good terrorism” and “bad terrorism”, saying they are “knowingly or unknowingly” lending a “force” to the menace which is a threat not only to any country or region but the entire humanity.

At the same time, Mr Modi said terrorism needs to be delinked from religion and underlined that the menace cannot be eradicated only by using “bombs, guns and pistols” but by creating an environment wherein the youth are saved from being radicalised. “Last week, a terrible terror attack took place in Brussels. I extend condolences to those who lost their dear ones. It is after a long time that such a serious incident has happened on this soil,” he said addressing a gathering of Indian diaspora here. He said while India has been suffering from terrorism over the last 40 years, the world has realised now how “deadly” and “cruel” terrorism is.

Mr Modi noted that in the last year, 90 countries suffered terror attacks in which thousands of people lost their lives and took on the United Nations for still not defining terrorism.

“..If you ask about terrorism, the UN does not know what terrorism is and how to deal with it. Because it (UN) was born from the dreadfulness of wars and therefore they are unable to think beyond that.

In a veiled dig at Pakistan, Mr Modi said “some neighbours” don’t understand that issues can be resolved peacefully by talks as he cited the example of Bangladesh with which decades-old disputes, including boundary question, were solved.

While talking about how disputes with Bangladesh were solved, he said, “We presented an example before the world that by talking, issues can be resolved with neighbouring countries. (But) some neighbours do not understand this. Now, how can we change our neighbours They will also understand, some day, they will also understand.” He did not name Pakistan but was apparently referring to this country with which there are several disputes and India wants these to be resolved.

“Sometimes we wonder whether there can be solutions to problems with neighbours.... There was a land dispute with Bangladesh since that country was born in 1971. Since then, the question was pending. One issue was about water sharing, another about demarcation of boundary in the sea and third about land boundary,” Mr Modi said.

“..If you ask about terrorism, the UN does not know what terrorism is and how to deal with it. Because it (UN) was born from the dreadfulness of wars and therefore they are unable to think beyond that.

“This (terrorism) is a challenge of the new age, a challenge to the humanity and in gauging it, the world’s such a major institution is not able to fulfil its duty,” the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister pointed out that India has been pleading with the UN for years that terrorism should be defined — who is a terrorist, which is a terrorist country, who is helping terrorists, who is supporting terrorists and which are the things that encourage terrorism.

Mr Modi termed it as a “misfortune” of the world as well as humanity the fact that UN is still unable to gauge the deadliness of terrorism.

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