The Modi government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism and has also conveyed to the international community India's determination in its fight against this global menace Prime Minister Modi has also spoken twice about his government’s approach of ‘Ghar Mein Ghus Ke Maara’ in his Lok Sabha
election rallies in Bihar and Rajasthan in the past two days. Targeting the Congress, PM Modi had alleged that under its rule,
India was considered a weak and poor country. It may be noted that the Modi government has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism and has also conveyed to the international community India’s determination in its fight against this global menace. It may be noted that PM Modi’s statement on terrorism in the public rallies comes at a time when the
British newspaper The Guardian published a controversial article on killings in
Pakistan on Thursday (April 4, 2024). The newspaper, relying on unnamed sources, especially Pakistani intelligence, has portrayed PM Modi as the mastermind of ‘extra-territorial killings’. PM Modi’s zero tolerance towards terror This is not the first time that PM Modi has talked about his government’s commitment to weed out terrorism. He has been following this approach in Parliament too where he lashed out heavily at
Congress while saying that it allowed terrorism and separatism to flourish in its own interest. He even said that under the rule of Congress Naxalism became a big challenge for the country. It may be noted that PM Modi made a policy shift concerning Pakistan after the Uri terrorist attack wherein he advocated the elimination of terrorism from the entire subcontinent. After repeated Pakistani intrusions in India, the PM hardened his stance and retaliated strongly with the first-ever surgical strikes along the Line of Control in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. What PM Modi said on terror on several occasions It may be noted that when Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister of India in 2014, he made it clear that his government would not tolerate terrorism and that there would be zero tolerance for terrorism under him. It is not just the Opposition Congress, PM Modi also aimed at the hypocrisy of the global world regarding the definition of terrorism during the G 20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit wherein he said, “Now the world is also realizing how big a challenge terrorism is. Wherever terrorism happens, for whatever reason, in whatever form it happens, it is against humanity, in such a situation we all have to be continuously strict regarding terrorism. However, there is another global aspect to it, towards which I would like to draw your attention, it is very sad that there is no consensus on the definition of terrorism. Even today, the International Convention on Incumbent Terrorism is waiting for consensus in the UN.” He urged the parliaments and representatives of the world to think about how all can work together in this fight against terrorism. Similarly following the 8th BRICS Summit PM Modi said, “We were unanimous in recognising the threat that terrorism, extremism and radicalization presents, not just to the regional and global peace, stability and economic prosperity. But, also to our society, our way of life and humanity as a whole. We were also one in agreeing that BRICS need to work together and act decisively to combat this threat.” In his address he added that there is a need for close coordination on tracking sources of terrorist financing; and targeting the hardware of terrorism, including weapons’ supplies, ammunition, equipment, and training. He also told the world leaders that those who nurture, shelter, support and sponsor such forces of violence and terror are as much a threat to us as the terrorists themselves. Furthering India’s commitment towards zero tolerance on terrorism PM Modi during a dinner hosted by the then US President
Barack Obama, in March 2016, on the theme of nuclear security threat perceptions had also attacked terrorism. He had said, “Terrorism is globally networked, but we still act only nationally to counter this threat. Without prevention and prosecution of acts of terrorism, there is no deterrence against nuclear terrorism.” He also urged everyone to drop the notion that terrorism is someone else’s problem and that “his” terrorist is not “my” terrorist. Similarly, recently, while inaugurating several projects in Somnath, Gujarat, the PM had talked about the power of terror. Without naming the
Taliban directly he had said, “The idea of building an empire based on terror is that it may dominate for some time, but its existence is never permanent. It cannot suppress humanity for long. ” Time and again the PM has been describing terrorism as a major threat to regional and global peace and without naming Pakistan he has been reiterating that some countries use cross-border terrorism as a tool of their policies, providing shelter to terrorists. While addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit virtually in past, the PM said that for decades, Pakistan has been engaging in the violent terrorist insurgency in Kashmir and providing a safe haven to terrorists. Then again PM Modi emphasised a unified stance against terrorism during the Parliamentary 20 Summit in New Delhi, while urging the countries to globally condemn terrorism in all its manifestations. His remarks came against the backdrop of the Israel-Palestine conflict wherein he expressed solidarity with Israel following the Hamas assault. He reiterated that terrorism, regardless of its origins or motives, is fundamentally opposed to humanity. In India’s fight against all forms of terrorism, one must remember that PM Modi has been saying, “Terrorism is an enemy of humanity and there can be no ifs or buts in dealing with it. We must overcome all such forces sponsoring and exporting terror.” In his strongly-worded message PM Modi highlighted perils of terrorism saying, “More than two decades after 9/11 and more than a decade after 26/11 in Mumbai, radicalism and terrorism still remain a pressing danger for the whole world. These ideologies keep taking new identities and forms but their intentions are the same.” Additionally, at the Ministerial Conference on Counter-Terrorism Financing held in November 2022, PM told the gathering of dignitaries from several nations how India is committed to weed out terrorism. He said that a special session of the
United Nations Security Council’s Counter-Terrorism Committee was held. Similarly in the ‘No Money For Terror’ Conference, India is trying to build global momentum against terror funding so that the world comes together to take the war against terrorism to the next level. The PM said that only a uniform, unified and zero-tolerance approach can defeat terrorism and there is an urgent need to attack terror funding in all its dimensions.