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New Delhi: The patriotism of Indian Muslims cannot be questioned, asserted Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his first ever international interview since assuming office.
"Indian Muslims will live for India and die for India. Al Qaeda delusional to think Indian Muslims will dance to its tunes," Modi told CNN.
Modi, whose historic US visit is scheduled for later in September, stressed on the ties shared by the two countries. He said that there similarities between India and US given their history and culture.
Modi, however, accepted that there has been several ups and downs in the Indo-US relations in the past. However, he was confident that the ties have taken a new shape in the 21st century. "I am confident that India and US can develop genuine strategic alliance," he said.
He added," The Indo-US ties should not be seen within the limits of Delhi and Washington: Both the countries realise that their ties are in a much larger sphere."
Here is the full transcript:
Question: There are many people in the US and some in India who wish that the US and India were much closer allies - the world's oldest democracy, the world's biggest democracy. But somehow that has never happened, and there have always been these frictions and difficulties. Do you think its possible for the US and India to develop a genuinely strategic alliance?
PM: I have a one word answer, and with great confidence I say - yes. Let me explain - there are many similarities between US and India. If you look at the last few centuries, two things come to light - America has absorbed people from around the world, and there is an Indian in every part of the world. This characterises both the societies. Indians and Americans have co-existence in their natural temperament. Now yes, for sure, there have been ups and downs in our relationship in the last century. But from the end of the 20th century to the first decade of the 21st century, we have witnessed a big change. Our ties have deepened. India and the USA are bound together, by history and culture. These ties will deepen further.
Question: So far in your talks with the Obama administration, you have had several cabinet members come here - do you feel there is a genuine desire from Washington to try and upgrade the relationship with India substantially?
PM: Relations between India and America should not be seen within the limits of just Delhi and Washington. It is a much larger sphere. The good thing is that the mood of both Delhi and Washington is in harmony with this understanding. Both sides have played a role in this.
Question: The head of Al Qaeda has issued a video and an appeal trying to create an Al Qaeda in India/South Asia - he says he wants to free Muslims from the oppression they face in Kashmir, Gujarat. Do you worry that something like this could succeed?
PM: My understanding is that they are doing injustice towards the Muslims of our country. If anyone thinks Indian Muslims will dance to their tune, they are delusional. Indian Muslims will live for India, they will die for India - they will not want anything bad for India.
Question: Why do you think it is that htere is a remarkable phenomenon that you have 170 million Muslims, and there seem to be almost no or very few members of the Al Qaeda, even though Al Qaeda is in Afghanistan, and of course there are many in Pakistan - what is it that has made this community not as susceptible?
PM: Firstly, I'm not the authority for doing a psychological and religious analysis on this. But the question is whether or not humanity should be defended in the world. Whether or not believers in humanity should unite. This is a crisis against humanity, not a crisis against one country or one race. So we have to frame this as a fight between humanity and inhumanity, nothing else.
Modi World Exclusive: Indian Muslims will live for India, die for India, says PM - IBNLive
"Indian Muslims will live for India and die for India. Al Qaeda delusional to think Indian Muslims will dance to its tunes," Modi told CNN.
Modi, whose historic US visit is scheduled for later in September, stressed on the ties shared by the two countries. He said that there similarities between India and US given their history and culture.
Modi, however, accepted that there has been several ups and downs in the Indo-US relations in the past. However, he was confident that the ties have taken a new shape in the 21st century. "I am confident that India and US can develop genuine strategic alliance," he said.
He added," The Indo-US ties should not be seen within the limits of Delhi and Washington: Both the countries realise that their ties are in a much larger sphere."
Here is the full transcript:
Question: There are many people in the US and some in India who wish that the US and India were much closer allies - the world's oldest democracy, the world's biggest democracy. But somehow that has never happened, and there have always been these frictions and difficulties. Do you think its possible for the US and India to develop a genuinely strategic alliance?
PM: I have a one word answer, and with great confidence I say - yes. Let me explain - there are many similarities between US and India. If you look at the last few centuries, two things come to light - America has absorbed people from around the world, and there is an Indian in every part of the world. This characterises both the societies. Indians and Americans have co-existence in their natural temperament. Now yes, for sure, there have been ups and downs in our relationship in the last century. But from the end of the 20th century to the first decade of the 21st century, we have witnessed a big change. Our ties have deepened. India and the USA are bound together, by history and culture. These ties will deepen further.
Question: So far in your talks with the Obama administration, you have had several cabinet members come here - do you feel there is a genuine desire from Washington to try and upgrade the relationship with India substantially?
PM: Relations between India and America should not be seen within the limits of just Delhi and Washington. It is a much larger sphere. The good thing is that the mood of both Delhi and Washington is in harmony with this understanding. Both sides have played a role in this.
Question: The head of Al Qaeda has issued a video and an appeal trying to create an Al Qaeda in India/South Asia - he says he wants to free Muslims from the oppression they face in Kashmir, Gujarat. Do you worry that something like this could succeed?
PM: My understanding is that they are doing injustice towards the Muslims of our country. If anyone thinks Indian Muslims will dance to their tune, they are delusional. Indian Muslims will live for India, they will die for India - they will not want anything bad for India.
Question: Why do you think it is that htere is a remarkable phenomenon that you have 170 million Muslims, and there seem to be almost no or very few members of the Al Qaeda, even though Al Qaeda is in Afghanistan, and of course there are many in Pakistan - what is it that has made this community not as susceptible?
PM: Firstly, I'm not the authority for doing a psychological and religious analysis on this. But the question is whether or not humanity should be defended in the world. Whether or not believers in humanity should unite. This is a crisis against humanity, not a crisis against one country or one race. So we have to frame this as a fight between humanity and inhumanity, nothing else.
Modi World Exclusive: Indian Muslims will live for India, die for India, says PM - IBNLive
