"Discrimination Used As Excuse To Take Up Terrorism": India's UN Envoy
NDTV
Adopted by consensus in 2001, the Durban Declaration is an action-oriented document proposing concrete measures to fight racial discrimination and intolerance
India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations - Ambassador T S Tirumurti - on Wednesday said "discrimination, racial or otherwise, is being used as an excuse to take up terrorism" and called on UN bodies to ensure terrorism is not justified on any ground.
The remarks came during a high-level meeting of the UN General Assembly to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration.
"To resist colonialism and racial discrimination, Mahatma Gandhi forged the weapon of satyagraha, or truth and non-violence. With this he led India to freedom. Our nation rests on the principles of democracy, pluralism, equality and justice. The Indian Constitution enshrined safeguards against racism and racial discrimination," Mr Tirumurti said.
"We have seen how discrimination, racial or otherwise, is being used as an excuse to take up terrorism. We call on UN bodies to ensure terrorism is not justified on any ground. State-sponsored terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism lead to disharmony in societies and increase in discrimination against minorities," he added.
