‘It pains my heart’: PM Modi on spreading violence in society; cites Germany’s Christmas market attack | India News

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday expressed his distress regarding attempts to disrupt social harmony and incite violence and said it pained his heart to see what happened at the Christmas market in Germany.
PM Modi attended the Christmas celebrations hosted by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India and highlighted that a human-centric approach, which India follows, is essential for advancing the 21st-century world towards progress.

At the event, the prime minister said, “The teachings of Lord Christ celebrate love, harmony, and brotherhood. It is important that we all work to make this spirit stronger. However, it pains my heart when there are attempts to spread violence and cause disruption in society. Just a few days ago, we saw what happened at the Christmas market in Germany. It is essential that we come together to fight such challenges!”
In Germany, a Saudi physician drove into a bustling market, resulting in five fatalities, including a nine-year-old child, and more than 200 injured including seven Indians.
At the event, PM Modi said, “It was a very satisfactory moment for me when we safely brought Father Alexis Prem Kumar from war-torn Afghanistan a decade back. He was stuck there for eight months and was in hostage… For us, all these missions are not mere diplomatic missions but an emotional commitment to bring back family members.”
India considers it a responsibility to ensure the safe return of its citizens, regardless of their location or the challenges they encounter.
During the Covid pandemic, Modi noted that several nations known for advocating human rights failed to support developing countries. India extended assistance beyond its means, supplying medicines to more than 150 countries and distributing vaccines internationally.
“Our youth have given us confidence that dream of a Viksit Bharat will surely be fulfilled,” he said.
Modi expressed pride in Pope Francis‘s decision to elevate His Eminence George Koovakad to Cardinal of the Holy Roman Catholic Church.