Invoking the 9/11 attack on the US this day 18 year ago, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the roots of terrorism are being nourished in India's neighbourhood and that New Delhi is fully competent to meet the challenge. "Today terrorism has become an ideology which has transgressed every border. It is a global problem and has become a global threat, whose strong roots are getting nourished in our neighbourhood," Modi said in an apparent reference to Pakistan.
Addressing a rally in Mathura near Delhi, he said the entire world needs to take a pledge against this ideology, against those who are taking it forward and those giving shelter and training to terrorists. "There is need for strong action. India is fully competent to face the challenge. We have shown this and will also show it in future," Modi said and pointed out that his government's effort to strengthen anti-terror laws is a step forward in this direction.
Recalling the 9/11 attack, he said September 11 is also a special day for another reason as it was on this day a century back when Swami Vivekananda delivered his historic address in Chicago. "Through that speech, the entire world thoroughly understood the culture and tradition of India. But it is unfortunate that on that very September 11, the 9/11 terrorist attack took place in the US, and it shook the entire world," Modi said. He said people need to unite whether the problem is sickness, pollution or terror.