“Terrorism has no justification whatsoever and no cause can be served by shedding the blood of innocent people. It is imperative that we all take a firm and unequivocal stand against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” she said inaugurating the 53rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference here.

She said the disruptive activities of terrorists using modern technologies to set up extensive networks and killing innocent people posed a serious threat.

“India will continue to work to further strengthen international cooperation against terrorism,” she told an audience which included Parliamentarians from Commonwealth countries, Union Ministers Shivraj Patil and Anbumani Ramadoss, and NRI industrialist Swraj Paul.

Noting that the world, which was full of strife and conflict, needed a “healing touch”, the President said firm political will was required to meet the 2015 target date to achieve the Millennium Development Goals that seek to eradicate poverty and hunger, promote education, empower women and combat HIV/AIDS.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is recovering after a prostate surgery, said in his message that member countries should share experience and knowledge to banish mass poverty.

PM’s message
“There are other issues of global concern such as terrorism, the threat of climate change and the preservation of our environment that need our urgent attention,” he said in the message, read out by Parliamentary Affairs Minister P R Dasmunsi.

Citing UN estimates that one-fifth of the world’s population lived in hunger and extreme poverty, the President said financial resources and technologies needed to be made available to developing countries for meeting the Millennium Development Goals. The concerns of the developing countries should be taken on board at the Doha Round of trade talks and the developing countries should have a greater role in the international financial institutions, she said.