Do not discredit Islam, it’s not a terror source: PM

Describing international terrorism as a ‘‘global monster’’, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today flayed the ‘&...

Describing international terrorism as a ‘‘global monster’’, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today flayed the ‘‘selective approach’’ and differing standards of some countries in combating the menace. He also dismissed the Western belief that Islam was a source of terrorism.

With terrorism and the volatile situation in neighbouring Iraq high on his agenda, Vajpayee arrived to a red carpet welcome on a three-day visit to Turkey, the first by the head of an Indian government in 15 years.

‘‘We cannot afford selective approaches which sacrifice the long-term interests. Differing standards cannot be applied for

judging terrorism,’’ he said in a wide-ranging interview with Turkish daily News. He expressed concern over the situation in Iraq, regrouping of Taliban in Afghanistan and dismissed suggestions that India had abandoned the Palestinians for Israel.

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Saying terrorism ‘‘knows no national boundaries or territorial limits of operations,’’ he said ‘‘it exploits the openness and freedom of democratic societies. It uses modern technologies and unorthodox techniques to achieve its destructive objectives.’’

The menace of terrorism, Vajpayee said, could be countered only by a global, united and comprehensive effort. About the tendency in the West to subscribe to the view that Islam was a source of terrorism, he said: ‘‘We totally dismiss the proposition that any religion is a source of terrorism. Such arguments seek to discredit one of the great religions of the world.’’

No religion, he said, prescribed violence against innocent people. ‘‘Our battle is against extremist elements who misuse and misinterpret religion to justify terrorism and incite violence.’’ —(PTI)