Headlines
Welcome Modi's remarks on religious freedom: EU
The European Union Wednesday
welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement on religious freedom
and said that his remarks were "entirely in line with the Indian
constitution".
A European Union ambassador Joao Cravinho, to a
question from the media here, said that Modi's remarks were "upholding
the basic principles of freedom of religion, were very welcome and
unremarkable".
He said Modi's remarks are "entirely in line with the Indian constitution, and it is not surprising he made the remarks".
"We
welcome that because we know very well there are elements of
discordance resulting from radical statements by different groups and it
is important for political leaders to be aware of the explosive
potential of religious divisiveness and communal conflicts, and Prime
Minister Modi's statements were highlighting such concern," he said.
On
Tuesday, Modi said his government will ensure complete freedom of faith
and will not allow any religious group to incite hatred against others
"overtly or covertly".
Addressing Christian leaders at a function
here, the prime minister reached out to them, saying he strongly
condemned violence against any religion.
"We cannot accept
violence against any religion on any pretext, and I strongly condemn
such violence. My government will act strongly in this regard," he said.
Modi's
remarks in support of freedom of religion came in the wake of a string
of attacks on churches in the capital and controversial utterances by
saffron right-wing fringe elements.
US President Barack Obama had
during his visit to India last month said that "India will succeed so
long as it is not splintered on religious lines".
Later during a
National Prayer Breakfast meeting in Washington, Obama said that Mahatma
Gandhi would have been shocked at the acts of intolerance in India.
Modi's
comments also came days after his Bharatiya Janata Party was routed in
the Delhi assembly elections, halting his party's winning spree since
last year's general elections.