In a letter to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) on Tuesday expressed their support for India’s respect for democratic constitutional responsibility and to reinforce their backing for a common goal to address extremism and terrorism.
“As the Republic of India, the largest democracy in the world, celebrates Samvidhan Divas on the 26 November 2020, we send our congratulations to the country for maintaining peace, democratic values and freedoms and for upholding the Constitution of India established in 1949,” French Member of the European Parliament Thierry Mariani, and Gianna Gancia, Italian Member of the European Parliament wrote in the letter.
The Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) said that despite India’s short term as a Republic, it was “steeped in history and culture. With its diversity of states, cultures and religions, India is a beacon for the democratic and free world.”
Further praising India, they highlighted that India “must be recognised for her dedication towards advocating and encouraging the principles of freedoms and rights under its constitution, one which treats all citizens equally.”
India was also honoured for its principles of non-violence, when it was acknowledged that it had always maintained peace, in the country and the region, and had retained its independence through principles of non-alignment.
In the letter, MEP Mariani and MEP Gancia also recollected the violence of 26 November, 2008 in Mumbai when 166 innocent people were murdered, including some who were tortured or disfigured before being killed.
“We send our condolences on this somber occasion and recognise the families and the individuals of the army and emergency services who were forced to witness the horrors resulting from these attacks. Europe mourns with you as we are also facing increased attacks from fundamentalists and extremists at this time,” the MEPs said.
“Whilst Pakistan has tried to deny its links with terrorist organisations the evidence, including United States intelligence reports, the origin of the attackers and Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s admission of the country’s involvement, all demonstrate, without doubt, that the Islamic Republic of Pakistan remains a global threat”, they added.
The MEPs additionally confirmed that “as parliamentarians we have called for the European Union to impose sanctions on the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and on individuals; terrorists, and those supporting and promoting terrorist activities; and to condemn state sponsored terrorism. Addressing visa and passport fraud, as well as illegal migration are challenges that both India and the European countries face in preventing terrorism emanating from third countries.”