Terrorism Has No Place In India, Says Om Birla

Terrorism and terror activities have no place in India and the central government is "very clear" in this regard, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said on Sunday, a day after the P20 meeting called for increased efforts "to deny terrorist groups safe haven, freedom of operations, movement and recruitment, as well as financial, material or political support." Birla's statement assumes significance as the issue was raised in one of his 13 bilateral meetings with speakers of various nations on Saturday on the sidelines of the P20 summit, officials said, declining to be named.

- Saubhadra Chatterji

"The position of the government is very clear in this regard.

The Prime Minister has also said it in his statement. The government has made it clear that terrorism and terror activities have no place in India," Birla said at a media briefing on Sunday. "It is a clear government policy... terrorism, be it of caste or religion ... terrorism is terrorism, and no form of terror will find any support in India." The 9th summit of the P20, a meeting of legislative speakers of the G20 nations, was successful, producing a consensus statement while current geopolitical tensions such as the conflict between Israel and Gaza-based Hamas remained in the backdrop.