No religion is under any threat in India where cultures and religions have co-existed in harmony for centuries, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval said on Tuesday. Doval was speaking at an event here organised by the Khusro Foundation and the India Islamic Cultural Centre in honour of Muslim World League (MWL) Secretary-General Sheikh Dr Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, who is on an India visit.

Asserting that terrorism is not linked to any religion, NSA Doval said it is no coincidence that despite there being around 200 million Muslims, the involvement of Indian citizens in global terrorism has been "incredibly low".

“India is an extremely responsible power. But when the need for a hard pursuit against terrorist havens, was felt, we have gone all out to destroy terrorism in our national interest," Ajit Doval said at the event.

"India has actively been working to combat terrorism through various means, including strengthening its security apparatus, enacting new laws, and cooperating with other countries to prevent terrorist activities. However, in this war against terror, even in the face of great provocation, India has steadfastly upheld the rule of law rights of its citizens and protection of human values and human rights," he added.

He also said India as the world's largest democracy and the mother of democracies is a land of incredible diversity.

Noting that India has been a melting pot of cultures and religions that have co-existed in harmony for centuries, he also said Islam occupies a unique and significant "position of pride" amongst the religious groups in the country.

“India continues to play its role as a refuge for high-product ideas with an infinite capacity to absorb dissent. Dissent does not mean disintegration. Dissent does not mean necessarily a confrontation. But in this country, because of your thought, because of your idea, no one is under threat,” Doval said, adding India believes in tolerance, dialogue and cooperation to deal with challenges.

Doval also hailed Al-Issa as an authentic global voice of moderate Islam and a profound scholar with a deep understanding of Islam.

To give an idea of the scale we are talking about, India's Muslim population is almost equal to the combined population of over 33 member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Doval added.

Mr Doval said he agreed with Saudi Arabia's former Minister for Justice, Mohammad Bin Abdulkarim al-Issa that terrorism cannot be linked with any religion. The former Saudi Arabia minister, who is Secretary General of the Muslim World League, also addressed the gathering.

The NSA said India has been leading the fight against individuals and organizations - who are promoting extremism, narcotics and terrorism

"The challenge of extremism and global terrorism compels us not to lower our guard. To preserve the security and stability within our borders and also rise to the security challenges beyond, India has been leading the fight - the fight against individuals and organizations - who are promoting extremism, narcotics and terrorism," he said.

Mr Doval said India has also been a victim of terrorism for many decades and has stuck to the rule of law in the fight against terrorism.

"The country has faced numerous terrorist attacks, including the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which claimed 168 lives. India has actively been working to combat terrorism through various means, including strengthening its security apparatus, enacting new laws, and cooperating with other countries to prevent terrorist activities. However, in this war against terror, even in the face of grave provocations, India has steadfastly upheld the rule of law, rights of its citizens and protection of human values and rights."

Noting that Al-Issa has in the past rejected any attempt to associate terrorism with any nationality, civilisation or religion, Doval said this is the absolutely right approach.

"Terrorism is not linked to any religion, it is the individuals that get misguided and it is probably the duty of spiritual and religious leaders to see that they can belong to any religion, faith, belief system or political ideology, but anyone who takes the path of violence will have to be countered as effectively," he said.

Hailing the "excellent" relations between India and Saudi Arabia, Doval said the ties were rooted in shared cultural heritage, common values and economic ties.

Our leaders share a common vision for the future and have been closely interacting with each other, the National Security Advisor said.

In his remarks, Doval also noted that Islam arrived in India in the 7th century during the life of Prophet Mohammad and gradually found a new home in this sub-continent.

Doval credited the spiritual content of Hinduism and Islam with bringing people together and helping in developing a social and intellectual understanding of each other. It gave rise to a vibrant expression of peace and harmony, notwithstanding the vagaries of political ups and downs, he said.

Held at a time of intense debate around the country over what shape a proposal for the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) would take, the event was attended by religious leaders, including leaders of other faiths, Members of Parliament (MPs), former bureaucrats and scholars, among others. 

Image source: ANI