Radicalism’ most chilling censorship’, India calls for combating terror infra

New Delhi: Terrorism and the radicalism are the “most chilling” form of censorship says India and calls for urgent steps to eradicate all such ‘terror infrastructures’ including all online manifestations.

“Terrorism and the radicalism that gives rise to it are the most chilling form of censorship. They threaten our cherished democratic freedoms and our shared republican ideals,” Foreign Secretary Harsh V. Shringla said here on Friday interacting with a cross-section of leading French academia, media and think-tankers.

The interaction was part of efforts to strengthen the dynamics of the India-France strategic relationship.

According to sources, Foreign Secretary Shringla met French academia and intellectuals as his first exercise with ‘non-neighbourhood stop in pandemic-age diplomacy’.

“France is India’s oldest strategic partner and our Friend for All Seasons,” he emphasised.

“Importance of France as a steadfast friend across so many domains. From Terrorism to global warming, from maritime security to sustainable development, from norms-based international institutions to technology and innovation, we are inevitably on the same side of the court,” a source quoted the Foreign Secretary of state.

Mr Shringla also underlined that “the events of the past week in Paris and Nice have been horrific”.

“India stands by France. We cannot pretend such actions come from simply lone-wolf initiatives and misguided individuals. There is an infrastructure of radicalism, including its online manifestations, that comes into play,” he said.

The Foreign Secretary said – it has the backing of states and organised institutions, “You know who they are. We cannot and should not postpone a coordinated and definitive response”.

He said this had been a challenging year due to COVID and stresses on the international system.

“While multilateralism needs to be reformed and upgraded, it’s hard-won gains must be nourished. As instinctive multilateralism, India and France have to shoulder responsibilities together, especially at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) where we will work together,” he said.

The Foreign Secretary further said it is important to take the same globalist, enlightened philosophy to new frontiers — whether conceptual such as cyberspace or geographical such as the Indo-Pacific.

He said India stands by France, “We cannot pretend such actions come from simply lone-wolf initiatives and misguided individuals. There is an infrastructure of radicalism, including its online manifestations, that comes into play. It has the backing of states and organised institutions. You know who they are. We cannot and should not postpone a coordinated and definitive response”.