West should trace root causes of terror: Azam Khan

ALIGARH: Against the backdrop of Paris attacks, Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan today asked the Western countries to trace the root causes of the problem if they wish to achieve victory over it as he maintained that rising incidents of terrorism in the world was a "reaction".

"There is an action and reaction effect in all social conflicts and this also holds true in the present context of rising incidents of terrorism in the world," Khan told reporters yesterday on sidelines of a private function.

He urged the US not to adopt "double standards" while confronting terrorism in the world.

"Western Countries should trace to root causes of terrorism if they wish to win battle against terror,", he said.

"When Eastern countries like India suffer from terror attacks and precious lives are lost, the West is hardly bothered. But when lives of their men are lost, they go on an overdrive," he said and asked, "Are our lives less precious."

Three days back, Khan had stoked a controversy by saying that the Paris terror attack could be a "reaction" to the "killing of innocents" in Arab countries by the "superpowers", setting of demands by opposition that he be sacked.

Khan also took a dig at Maulana Mahmood Madni, President of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind for leading a protest against the Paris attacks. "Religious leaders should not not meddle in politics. Let them look after their affairs and leave politics. We never interfere in their matters," he said.