Terrorism Is Exported To Us, It Is Not Home Grown, Says PM Modi In New York

New York: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that all terrorism in India is "exported and not home-grown."

"People of all communities in India are driven by a core philosophy.  That is symbolised by Buddha, Mahatma Gandhi. Non-violence is at the core of our philosophy, all the terrorism in our country is exported and not home-grown.  In a recent interview, I told the CNN, the Indian Muslim will defeat the al Qaeda's designs," the Prime Minister said to a question at the Council of Foreign Relations in New York on the expanding influence of terror groups like the Islamic State or ISIS in India's neighbourhood. (Live updates of PM Modi's US visit)

In a reference to the ISIS assassination of hostages, Mr Modi said in his address to the council, "Terrorism is an unimaginable perversion. Can you imagine a journalist being beheaded and it is being shown on television. We live in 21st century, and it's a challenge for us. It's a big challenge for us which can shake us to the core."

India has "suffered for 40 years. Terrorism has no borders," he said, rejecting any distinction between good and bad terrorism. "There cannot be a distinction between good and bad terrorism. Terrorism is terrorism," the Prime Minister said. (Highlights of PM Modi's speech)

He called for a collective fight to effectively tackle the global menace, ruing that many countries had not understood the problem of terrorism. "There is a need to take the challenge of terrorism seriously. Terrorism can strike anywhere, anytime... it is an enemy of humanity. It cannot be tackled on the basis of political arithmetic," he said.