Non- violence in our DNA: Modi
PM for people- to- people contacts to boost relations India is a land of Lord Buddha. Buddha lived for peace and suffered for peace and that message is prevalent in India. Non- violence is ingrained in the DNA of Indian society. — NARENDRA MODI Prime Mi
Narendra Modi sought to address concerns of international community over not signing the NPT by saying the country’s commitment to peace and nonviolence is ingrained in the “DNA of Indian society” which is above any treaty.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday sought to address concerns of international community over India not signing the NPT by saying that the country’s commitment to peace and non- violence is ingrained in the “DNA of Indian society” which is above any international treaty or processes.
“India is a land of Lord Buddha. Buddha lived for peace and suffered for peace and that message is prevalent in India,” Mr Modi said at Sacred Heart University here while replying to a question by a student.
During an interaction, he was asked how India would enhance trust of the international community without changing its stand on Nuclear Non- Proliferation Treaty ( NPT), which it has refused to sign despite possessing nuclear weapons.
Mr Modi used the land of Japan, which is the only country to have been the victim of an atom bomb attack, to send out the message on this issue amid moves to have a civil nuclear deal with Tokyo. India refuses to sign the NPT because it considers it as flawed.
Asserting that India’s “commitment to non- violence is total”, Mr Modi said it is ingrained in the “DNA of Indian society and this is above any international treaty”, apparently referring to India’s refusal to sign the NPT.
“In international affairs, there are some processes. But above them is the com- mitment of the society,” he said, underlining the need for rising “above the treaties”.
To buttress his point, the Prime Minister cited how India undertook the freedom struggle under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi with the entire society being committed to nonviolence, surprising the whole world.
Crediting common people for the close relations between India and Japan, the Prime Minister advocated greater people- to- people contact for expansion of ties.
He suggested formation of separate Parliamentary associations of young MPs and women besides proposing that Parliamentary delegations from Japan should visit cities other than Delhi when they travel to India.
These steps will help understanding each other better and push the ties further, the Prime Minister said while addressing a reception hosted by India-Japan Association and Japan- India Parliamentary Friendship League.