INDIA: CLINTON PAID TRIBUTE TO THE TERRORISM

HILLARY CLINTON HONOURS
MUMBAI VICTIMS, URGES TERROR FIGHT

MUMBAI, India (AFP) — US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Saturday paid tribute to victims of last year's Mumbai attacks, calling for a global fight to combat the scourge of terror as she began a visit to India. Clinton, on her first trip to India as Washington's top diplomat, linked the attacks which left 166 people dead to those in the United States on September 11, 2001 and Friday's deadly hotel bombings in Jakarta. "These events are seared in our collective memory," she told a news conference at the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel, where she is staying and where 31 guests and staff lost their lives during the Islamist militant siege. "Yesterday's bombings in Jakarta, Indonesia provide a painful reminder that the threat of such violent extremism is still very real. It's global, ruthless, it's nihilistic and it must be stopped. "

The United States will work with the Indian government, the Indonesian government and other nations and peoples to seek peace and security and confront and defeat these violent extremists." In a private meeting, Clinton earlier met 13 members of staff from the Taj and the nearby Trident-Oberoi hotels, including Taj general manager Karambir Kang, whose wife and two sons died in the tragedy. Despite losing his family, he continued to work and direct rescue operations. Clinton said she was "deeply touched" to meet the employees and to pay her respects at the memorial to the victims at the landmark waterfront hotel.

Counter-terrorism is one of a number of issues on Clinton's agenda, alongside tackling nuclear proliferation and climate change plus opening up trade and new markets. Clinton met key business leaders in Mumbai and is also meeting members of a non-governmental organisation that promotes women in work and educational professionals as part of her desire to deepen ties "beyond government". Clinton speaks to the media next to a member of "Sewa", a women's self employment voluntary organisation, during her visit to their office in Mumbai. "Both our people have experienced the senseless and searing effects of violent extremism," she wrote in a condolence book. "Now it is up to all nations and people who seek peace and progress to work together. Let us rid the world of hatred and extremism that produces such nihilistic violence. Our future deserves no less."

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US?

Vaisnavas say that since everyone is a servant of the Lord, everyone is on the same platform. Therefore a Vaisnava treats other living entities neither as friends nor as enemies, but instead tries to spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness, teaching everyone that we are all one as servants of the Supreme Lord but are uselessly wasting our valuable lives by creating nations, communities and other groups of friends and enemies. Everyone should come to the platform of Krishna consciousness and thus feel oneness as a servant of the Lord. Although there are 8,400,000 species of life, a Vaisnava feels this oneness.

The Sri Īśopanisad advises, ekatvam anupaśyatah. A devotee should see the Supreme Personality of Godhead to be situated in everyone's heart and should also see every living entity as an eternal servant of the Lord. This vision is called ekatvam, oneness. Although there is a relationship of master and servant, both master and servant are one because of their spiritual identity. This is also ekatvam. Thus the conception of ekatvam for the Vaisnava is different from that of the Māyāvādī.

Srila A.C. BV Swami Prabhupada:
"The Srimad Bhagavatam - Purport in Canto 7 - Chapter 5 - Verse 12"