Indian Muslims will live and die for India, PM Narendra Modi says

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his first interview after assuming office, has expressed confidence about strengthening India-US relations. (File photo)

NEW DELHI: "Indian Muslims will live for India, they will die for India — they will not want anything bad for India," Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said in his first interview after assuming office.

"My understanding is that they are doing injustice towards the Muslims of our country. If anyone thinks Indian Muslims will dance to their tune, they are delusional," Modi told CNN's Fareed Zakaria when asked about the head of al-Qaida issuing a video and an appeal trying to create an al-Qaida in India- South Asia.

He was also put a question about the remarkable phenomenon that out of the 170 million Muslims in India, there seemed to be no or very few members of al-Qaida even though it is in Afghanistan and Pakistan. "What is it that has made this community not as susceptible?"

Modi answered that first he was not the authority for doing a psychological and religious analysis on this.

"But the question is whether or not humanity should be defended in the world. Whether or not believers in humanity should unite. This is a crisis against humanity, not a crisis against one country or one race. So we have to frame this as a fight between humanity and inhumanity, nothing else," he said.

In his interview, Modi spoke about a host of issues concerning India-US relations.

Modi admitted that there has been many ups and downs in bilateral relations over the centuries.

He, however, expressed confidence that India-US ties will deepen further.

"I have a one word answer, and with great confidence I say yes. Let me explain there are many similarities between the US and India. If you look at the last few centuries, two things come to light America has absorbed people from around the world, and there is an Indian in every part of the world. This characterises both the societies.

"Indians and Americans have co-existence in their natural temperament. Now yes, for sure, there have been ups and downs in our relationship in the last century. But from the end of the 20th century to the first decade of the 21st century, we have witnessed a big change. Our ties have deepened. India and the USA are bound together, by history and culture. These ties will deepen further," he said.

Asked if he feels there is a genuine desire from Washington to try and upgrade the relationship with India substantially, the Prime Minister said relations between India and America should not be seen within the limits of just Delhi and Washington.

"It is a much larger sphere. The good thing is that the mood of both Delhi and Washington is in harmony with this understanding. Both sides have played a role in this," he said.

Source : TOI