French Ambassador 'saddened' by Azam's remarks

Image
Press Trust of India New Delhi
Last Updated : Nov 16 2015 | 5:57 PM IST
French Ambassador to India Francois Richier today said he was "saddened" by Uttar Pradesh Minister Azam Khan's remark that the Paris terror attack could have been a "reaction" to the "killing of innocents" in Arab countries by "superpowers" including the US.
"I am saddened," Richier told reporters here while reacting to Khan's statement.
Khan, a senior Samjawadi Party leader, condemned the terrorist attacks in Paris but simultaneously raked up the issue of action by the US and Russia in Arab countries, saying "killing of innocents" anywhere is "not justified".
"Whatever the terrorists did in Paris was wrong. But, attack on Arab countries and killing of innocents there by US and Russia is also not justified," he said.
"We need to look who killed whom first, after that who retaliated. This is a debatable issue. You strike bombs through drones to kill the innocents... History will decide who is a terrorist and who is wrong.
"If this attack is a reaction then the superpowers must think about it. What action led to this reaction and whether their action was justified? They need to think otherwise there is apprehension that the situation will get worse. I think the world is heading towards another World War," Khan had said yesterday.
Reacting sharply to Khan's remarks, BJP demanded action against him and dared the Samajwadi Party leadership to make public its stand, saying it would otherwise be construed that it supports terrorism.
Three teams of extremists belonging to the militant outfit ISIS carried out coordinated gun-and-suicide bombing attacks across the French capital on November 13 that left at least 129 people dead and 352 injured, attracting condemnation from an entire spectrum of world leaders.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Nov 16 2015 | 5:57 PM IST

Next Story