Prime Minister Narendra Modi today rejected the notion that
India was putting "so much hard work" to isolate Pakistan, asserting that his efforts were aimed at uniting the world powers to defeat terrorism as his country has been suffering from the scourge since decades.He said the suggestion that the country's foreign policy was based on
Pakistan was wrong but stressed that the world was uniting against those sympathetic towards terrorists, an apparent reference to the neighbouring country."If you think we are doing so much hard work around the world to isolate one nation, then that is wrong. This is not our work. Yes, the world is grappling with the scourge of terrorism and whoever is sympathetic towards terrorists, the world is uniting against them,"
he told Times Now in an interview, according to the transcript.India's foreign policy is issue-based and is in the context of its relations with the world, he said.
Modi also praised US
President Donald Trump for raising his voice against terror with "a lot of assertion"."I welcome him and I respect him. Whoever takes a step against terrorism, I will welcome them and praise them, because my country has been suffering from terrorism for forty years.
Innocents are being killed. Terrorism needs to end in the world," he said.As far as
Pakistan is concerned, he noted that he had always said
India and
Pakistan have fought a lot and now should come together to fight poverty and
diseases."I directly talk to the people of
Pakistan. I directly tell the people, should we not fight poverty? Should we not fight illiteracy? Should we not fight
diseases? If we fight together, we will win faster,
" he said.On Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praising him for his strong stance against terrorism,
Modi said he was grateful to him for praising
India so much and for lauding the
Indian government."Humanity is in great danger and to save humanity, it's important for powers that believe in humanitarian values to unite."And I believe this fight is about saving humanity and nothing can be a bigger soft power than this,"
Modi said."You have to unite those who believe in humanitarian values, only then can you isolate terrorists and defeat terrorism,"
he said.To a question about
Kashmir and the appointment of the Centre's
representative for a dialogue, the
prime minister said dialogue does take place with every Indian citizen and it will continue to take place."Constitution of
India has given us that responsibility and we do it. There is nothing new, this has been happening, and I have even said all of this from the ramparts of red fort. There is no difficulty in it,"
Modi said."Every Indian citizen has the right to speak to Mr
Modi and say 'Mr
Modi please stand and talk to us'. We are there for those who believe in the Constitution of
India and for those who live and die for the nation," he said.
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