Modi cautions against growing ‘arc of violence’
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday cautioned the international community against the growing “arc of violence” and said the biggest challenge to world peace is from mindsets rooted in hate and violence, and not from conflict between the nation states.
Speaking as the chief guest at the International Vesak Day celebrations in Colombo, Modi said the ideologies of hate and their proponents in the region are closed to notion of dialogue and hence, only open to causing death and destruction.
“The menace of terrorism in our region is a concrete manifestation of this destructive emotion,” he said, apparently referring to Pakistan, which is accused of aiding and training terrorists. “The biggest challenge to sustainable world peace today is not necessarily from conflict between the nation states,” he said, adding it was from the mindsets, thought streams, entities and instruments rooted in the idea of hate and violence.
Modi said he believes “Buddhism’s message of peace is the answer to growing arc of violence all over the world.” Lord Buddha’s message is as relevant in the 21st century as it was two and a half millennia ago, Modi told the audience which included Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, PM Ranil Wickremesinghe, diplomats, politicians and Buddhist leaders . Modi also lauded the Tamil community, saying people like Tamil Nadu’s former chief minister MG Ramachandran and cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan have left an indelible mark on society.
“Ceylon is famous all over the world due to sweat and toil of the Tamilpeople.Werememberyour forefathers who undertook the journey of their life from India to then Ceylon,” the PM said. “We remember and salute the struggle of the Tamil people of central Sri Lanka, their forefathers and leaders like Saumiyamurthy Thondaman,” he said. Modi also announced a direct Air India flight between Colombo and Varanasi from August this year.