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| Terror has hurt democracy: PM | | | AGENCIES
New Delhi, Dec 13: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday said that the Indian democracy was hurt by the recent terror attacks across the country, especially the deadly siege in Mumbai.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the two-day International Conference of Jurists on Terrorism, the Role of Law and Human Rights, Dr Singh said that when terrorists strike in cities like Delhi and Mumbai, “our economy is hurt, people are hurt, and India is hurt.”
Noting that the terrorists seek to target a particular community in their bid to cause disharmony, the PM cautioned that no specific group should be targeted in the fight against terror. He added that there was a sustained effort to spread communal disharmony in the country, seeking to destroy overall well-being.
On the anniversary of 2001 Parliament attack, Dr Singh described terrorism as a “challenge to human spirit” and said the governments needed to be resolute to root out the menace. All democratic forces around the world have to come together to defeat terror, he said.
“Governments (across the world) have promised to fight terror quickly and in a united manner,” the PM added.
The PM further said that the governments of the (South Asian) region have a "moral duty" to take firm and expeditious action against the menace.
"In our region, there is growing awareness that terrorism and extremism pose a threat to democracy and development. Governments and authorities in our region and elsewhere have a moral duty to act firmly and quickly," he said.
While addressing the conference, the Prime Minister said that it was important to understand the relationship between human rights and the fight against terror. Fighting terror in fact defends human rights, he noted.
"The threat of terrorism is not divisible. The fight against it is also not divisible. The defence of freedom and peace is also not divisible," Dr Singh said.
Stressing on the need for a cautious response to terror, the PM said that the forces of terror are inspired by ideology of hatred.
Lauding the countrymen for the immense courage shown by them in the wake of deadly terror attacks across India recently, Dr Singh noted that “each one of us has a responsibility to discharge”.
“I urge each one of us… to follow the ideals that define our nation to ensure proper functioning of our democratic institutions,” he said.
Thanking the international community for expressing solidarity with India in the wake of the "horrible" terror strikes in Mumbai, Dr Singh said he had received phone calls and letters from Heads of State and Government from several countries, including those from India's neighbourhood.
They have assured India that "they stand with us in our fight against terrorism," he said.
Terror on conference’s agenda
The jurists’ conference is taking place on the seventh anniversary of the terrorist attack on the Indian Parliament, and comes almost three weeks after the Mumbai terror strikes.
The two-day conference would discuss among other issues cross border terrorism – effect on development, terrorism and law and human rights in the face of international terrorism, menace of cyber crime against data protection, combating drug trafficking, consumption and related problems, President of International Council of Jurists (ICJ) Dr Adish C Aggarwala said.
Chief Justice of India, Dr Justice KG Balakrishnan and Union Minister for Law and Justice Dr Hansraj Bhardwaj will take part in the event.
The conference is being jointly organized by the International Council of Jurists, the All India Bar Association and the Indian Council of Jurists (ICJ).
A book on Constitution of India written by Dr. Aggarwala would be released on the occasion.
About 1000 delegates from across the world including USA, UK, Spain, Malaysia, Japan, Austria, Jordan and South Africa are attending the meeting which would also discuss key economic issues such as law and corporate governance, role of ADR in reducing arrears of cases, regulatory framework for mergers and acquisitions, pharmaceutical patenting and national arbitration law, he said.
The International Jurists Award-2008 and National Law Day Award 2008 would also be presented at the inaugural function. = |
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