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| Power to peoples is weapon against terror: Azad | | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | June 1
Describing terrorism as a serious challenge before the society, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today called for empowerment of people to defeat the deadly menace.
Speaking at an international conference on terrorism organized by the Jama Masjid United Forum at New Delhi, Chief Minister Azad underscored the need to promote reconciliation and dialogue to resolve the tensions feeding terrorists, adding that the strategy against terrorism also required under- cutting the social base of terrorists.
This significant conference was attended by top leaders of various religions, scholars, peace activists and political leaders from different parts of world. Azad had the opportunity of chairing the opening session of the Conference.
"We understand that the factors motivating terrorism are to be addressed in a holistic way and therefore we are committed to overcome it taking political, diplomatic, humanitarian, economic and electoral initiatives and counter-terrorism measures. The results are inspiring for everyone to see", Azad said, adding that the most effective way of ensuring the terrorists were not able to exploit the sentiments of any section of people was by ensuring good and just and, above all, participatory governance.
The Chief Minister called for the support of public opinion to treat terrorists as killers and not attach with them a halo of heroism. "Terrorists can be successfully destroyed only if public opinion, both at home and abroad, supports the authorities in regarding them as ruthless killers and criminals rather than heroes, he said. He expressed satisfaction that the central and J&K governments had pulled-out all stops in tackling terrorism through political and economic measures including rehabilitation and reconciliation.
Azad also attached importance to political strategies to combat terrorism. He said the groups that had mounted the tiger of terror and were finding it difficult to dismount needed to be isolated. The younger generation afflicted by terrorism, he said, must be exposed to contemporary ideas of democratic decentralization and the universal value that bind people irrespective of their faith. He said this could be effectively done by NGOs and religious groups. He called for involving civil rights activists and religious figures who enjoy support and confidence of the people. At the international level, he said, it was critical that countries that support terrorism, sponsor it or provide sanctuaries to terrorists were totally exposed and isolated.
The Chief Minister expressed satisfaction that religious leaders were now leading the movement against violence and terrorism and making genuine efforts to reconcile differences between people of different faiths. He said he was delighted to note that the inaugural session of the conference was attended by religious luminaries like the Dalai Lama, besides many dignitaries representing different religions and faiths. He said he had no doubt that when religious leaders of their stature came together and gave a united call for peace and justice and against violence and terrorism, its impact would be felt much beyond the venue of the conference. He said while no religions advocated violence and terror, there were certain vested interests and groups who misinterpreted religious scriptures to misguide gullible people.
Quoting historian Sir Michael Howard, the Chief Minister said that terrorism thrived in a sea of perceived injustice. That was why, he said, some economically well to do regions and states throughout the world were exploited emotionally and had taken to terrorism while poorer regions did not. He said poverty, illiteracy, ghetto culture, social isolation, poor governance and corruption also played role. He said the violent tendencies in some youth exploited by interested groups and manufactured tendencies further helped the process. He said the worst form of terrorism was targeting innocent people to create a climate of fear throughout the society to impose certain extreme communal, fundamentalist and religious beliefs on it.
The Chief Minister said that there were people in every society and nation that had genuine grievances- regional, economic, political or social- the systematic exploitation of which by a handful of persons with vested interests led to acts of terrorism. He said there were also countries that supported and sponsored terrorism and believed in bleeding other country with a 'thousand cuts'. He said the causes of real grievances were relegated to the background when terrorist groups took charge. " Thus what may have started of as a genuine campaign for justice becomes a hydra-headed monster that is divorced from the values of all civilizations", he added
Referring to the vision of justice, liberty and equality enshrined in the Constitution of India, the Chief Minister said that while the country might not have achieved these objectives to perfection, the world recognized the strength of "our multi-religious, multi-linguistic, multi cultural democracy where violence and terror had no place". He said Jammu & Kashmir had unfortunately come to be identified with violence for the pasty two decades where the people had been made victims of bloodshed and senseless violence. He, however, said with confidence that the situation had changed now for the better. He invited the participants of the Conference to visit the State and see how its people were again living a life of peace and harmony.
The Chief Minister congratulated Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid, Delhi, Syed Ahmad Bukhari and President, Jama Masjid United Forum, Syed Yahya Bukhari for conceiving the idea of the conference and ensuring high level participation from a large number of countries, especially the Muslim world. |
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