Thaindian News

London, July 17 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Nitin Gadkari has called upon the international community to join hands to strengthen the global framework against terrorism in the light of the renewed terror attacks in Mumbai.

“Terrorism is a common concern for mankind and it does not recognise any boundaries”, Gadkari said while addressing a largely attended Convention of the Overseas Friends of BJP here Saturday night.

He appreciated British Prime Minister David Cameron’s candid statement during his visit to India last year that Pakistan promoted “export of terror”.

Cameron had said in Bangalore, “We cannot tolerate in any sense the idea that this country is allowed to look both ways and is able to promote the export of terror, whether to India or Afghanistan or anywhere else in the world”.

Gadkari said his party wanted good relations with Pakistan so that the two countries could live in peace and fight the problems of poverty and unemployment. “But we live in a very uncertain neighbourhood. Pakistan was using terror as a state policy. Terror groups like Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) were offshoots of the ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence),” Gadkari said.

He said there were growing inter-linkages among terror groups and India and Britain need to give the highest priority to defeating global terrorism and to making sure that the two countries cooperate fully with each other in winning this battle.

During his hour-long address, Gadkari outlined the progress made by the BJP ruled states in the development of infrastructure, tourism and other sectors and invited the people of Indian origin to take advantage of the positive investment climate in these states.

He hailed the achievements of the influential Indian-origin community in the UK in various fields and referred to the problems being faced by them in visa and PIO card related matters. He assured them he would take up these issues with the government.

Speaking on the occasion former Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje complimented the Indian community for the role they were playing in strengthening the British economy and sought their cooperation in development back home.

Also present were Smriti Irani, president of the BJP Mahila Morcha and newly elected Rajya Sabha member from Gujarat, Vijay Jolly, convenor of the Overseas Friends of BJP, who spoke on the emerging young leadership in the BJP, and Surendra Sharma, president of the OFBJP, UK.