Gadkari warns Pakistan against export of terror to India

New York, July 15 (ANI): Union Minister of Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari has accused Pakistan of exporting terror to India with the sinister design of vitiating the favourable climate which Prime Minister Narendra Modi Government has successfully created for global investors as New Delhi is today seen as one the emerging economies in the world. Gadkari warned Islamabad that its policy of putting road blocks in the economic growth of India through cross-border terrorism will never succeed. Instead, both India and Pakistan should fight the common enemy- poverty, backwardness and unemployment- through collective efforts and cooperation in socio-economic fields. Speaking at a reception organized by the Overseas Friends of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in New Jersey, Gadkari said terrorism is the biggest threat to humanity and must be defeated through joint efforts by all the peace loving nations in the world. During his interactions with captains of trade and industry at various forums in Washington and New York also, Gadkari was repeatedly asked about the tension in Indo-Pak relations and its impact on the economic development in India. The Road Transport and Highways and Shipping Minister maintained that India wanted to improve relations with Pakistan. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the last two years has taken several initiatives to promote peace and tranquility in the region. But Pakistan's intransigence in harbouring dreaded terrorists and terrorists' outfits has always derailed the peace process," he told the CEOs of leading US firms in different sectors. Widening the scope of Indo-US cooperation in Maritime Sector and seeking U.S. innovative technologies in highway construction, road engineering, road safety, including training modules for reducing fatalities on roads and highways through intelligent traffic system etc. has been the focus of Gadkari's meetings at different levels, including his interaction with the U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx in Washington. Gadkari succeeded in dispelling apprehensions in the minds of potential investors with regard to red-tape and cumbersome administrative procedures and complicated rules and regulations. He explained at various forums the new policy initiatives of the Modi Government encouraging ease of doing business in India which have helped in removing bottle necks to a great extent. Gadkari has invited U.S. investments in ship building, ship repairing, modernization of Indian ports, especially the flagship programme of Sagarmala and other port-led development related programmes of the Indian government. (ANI)