New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday came out with a blunt message to law enforcing agencies. Do your job fearlessly, but don't target communities, he said. The PM was speaking at seminar on International law.
"Human rights and the fight against terrorism are related to each other but separately. In certain circumstances, states are both entitled and obliged to take steps that deviate from human right principles. However, we should not feel discouraged. Certain rights and freedom can be deviated from but only to an extent to meet the security threat," he said.
He added that political parties are united against terrorism, which is a threat to human rights and a challenge to democracy. The people of India have shown immense courage.
In an apparent reference to Pakistan, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that governments in South Asia "have a moral duty to act firmly and quickly" against terrorists.
He said there was a growing awareness "in our region that terrorism and extremism pose a threat to democracy and development".
"Governments and authorities in our region and elsewhere have therefore a moral duty to act firmly and quickly," he added.
Manmohan Singh thanked the international community for expressing its solidarity with the people of India in the wake of the horrible terrorist attacks in Mumbai.
"I have received phone calls and letters from numerous heads of state and government from all over the world and from our neighbourhood, assuring us that they stand with us in our fight against terrorism."
The Prime Minister also dwelt on other terror attacks that have taken place in India in recent times.
"The recent dastardly attack in Mumbai follows a pattern that has become all too familiar. There is an organised attempt by forces inimical to freedom and peace in our region to destroy Indian democracy by striking at the very roots of our nationhood. These terrorists seek to pit one community against another. There is a systematic effort to spread communal disharmony and conflict. By weakening the fabric of our nationhood these terrorists seek to destroy our well-being and the foundation of our prosperity. There is a method to their madness. When cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Jaipur are targeted, the target is also India's economic rise. When our economy is hurt, our people are hurt. Our democracy is hurt."
Manmohan Singh said that terrorists were targeting the rule of law and disregarding the process and respect for fundamental human rights, which he said constituted the very foundation of any modern civilised society.
(With inputs from agencies)
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