Terrorism exported to India, Indian Muslims will fail Al Qaeda: Modi

New York: Terrorism has been exported to India and it is not home-grown, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said here Monday, adding that the Indian Muslims will fail the Al Qaeda.

Answering a query at the Council of Foreign Relations here, Modi said India has the second largest Muslim population in the world. He said India’s basic philosophy of non-violence drives everyone -- the philosophy of Buddha and Mahatma Gandhi.

“We are bothered by terrorism... it has been exported to our country, it is not home grown. The Muslims in India, CNN had asked about it, India’s Muslims will fail the Al Qaeda,” he asserted.

Terrorism is the enemy of humanity and anyone who believes in humanity should come together to challenge the great danger of humanity, Modi said in answer to another question.

The prime minister said India has been suffering from the effects of terrorism for the past 40 years and also referred to the jihadi terror group Islamic State and the beheading of journalists.

“We have suffered for 40 years from the effects of terrorism, it is such a deformity that we can’t imagine. And when we see it on TV when a journalist’s throat is being slit, and that in the 21st century such a heinous crime is being committed in front of us... and till we don’t challenge it... we have to believe in humankind, we have to go together, terrorism is the enemy of humanity and anyone who believes in humanity needs to come together to combat it,” he said.

He said all countries needed to overcome their divisions to combat the challenge of terrorism, and for that there was only one way -- that the world should understand the danger of terrorism and those who believe in humanity should join hands.

Modi also said there was no good terrorism and bad terrorism, and if we brand it like this then terrorism would take advantage of that. He gave the example of West Asia, saying the region was far ahead in prosperity, “but look at the situation now” -- referring to the violence by the Islamic State and other groups.

He said that the world should believe in one mantra -- for prosperity for everyone and encouraging tourism -- to encourage people-to-people contacts.

“Terrorism divides and tourism unites, and we want that we should meet and get to know each other,” Modi said.