Attacks in Paris, Pathankot against fundamental values: Prez

President Pranab Mukherjee has said that terror attacks on Paris or Pathankot are against fundamental values of liberty and freedom.
The President made these comments at a banquet he hosted in honour of French President Francois Hollande at the Rashtrapati Bhavan yesterday.
Appreciating the French President for his leadership and resolute action in the wake of the dastardly terror attacks in Paris in November last year, a Rashtrapati Bhavan spokesperson quoted Mukherjee as saying that these determined steps show France will "not let terrorists succeed."
"India appreciates the support and solidarity expressed by France for India in the wake of the attacks in Pathankot. Whether in Paris or Pathankot, terrorist attacks on democracies such as India and France are an attack against fundamental values of liberty, freedom and universal brotherhood.

"Terrorism is a global threat and it poses a threat to all nations. No cause can justify terrorist acts. It is imperative that the world act in unison against terrorism, without political considerations," he said.
The President, the spokesperson said, added the two countries must fight resolutely for freedom against the forces of intolerance, extremism and terrorism.

"The dastardly terror attacks in Paris and Pathankot have underlined the urgency for countries like India and France to jointly combat this existential threat to humanity and human civilisation," he said.
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The President said friendship between India and France is driven by a remarkable similarity in the ideals and aspirations of our people.

"Our civilisations have interacted with each other over the centuries, united by a shared vision of the world we want to live in- a world that is premised on individual liberty, freedom and equality, a world that respects pluralism and democracy, a world that seeks tolerance and peaceful co-existence," Mukherjee said.
He said the deep bonds of our time-tested friendship are only set to strengthen in the years ahead anchored as they are in this rich, unshakable foundation.
The President said while mutual cooperation between the two nations in science and research and other sectors is growing, he was glad that the French government and captains of their industry are actively partnering India "in our ambitious developmental initiatives, infrastructure, smart cities, clean energy, railways and skill development."

He also talked about Hollande's visit to the country as the chief guest of the Republic Day parade and the importance India attaches to the invited country.
The President said France was the only country to have been accorded the honour of being chief guest at India's Republic Day celebrations for the fifth time.
When the French Infantry troops march in step with Indian troops in the parade (today), they will make history yet again by being the first-ever foreign contingent to do so, he said.
"This is not just history in the making, it is a testimony to the enduring bonds between our two civilisations and our two people, it is a tribute to our long-standing and strategic partnerships.

"It is emblematic of our two national mottos: "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" and "Satyameva Jayate", coming together, with the power to inspire the world to achieve the universal ideals of peace and justice," the President said.
He said India has begun the New Year "with fresh hopes and dreams and a resolve to jointly overcome the challenges facing us."
"We live in difficult times characterised by violence, fundamentalism and inequality. But, we also live in times of brilliant innovation, of great creativity, of unparallelled global interaction," he said adding the French President's visit "heralds new beginnings in scaling new heights in India-France bilateral relationship and in the common quest for peace, stability and prosperity for all."

Mukherjee congratulated Hollande on the successful organisation of the Paris climate summit as he recalled that thousands of Indian soldiers hailing from Punjab and Haryana fought France's battle during the First World War and close to ten thousand of them today lie buried in scattered cemeteries in France, having made the supreme sacrifice for the freedom of France.