‘Loneliness driving western youth to IS’

VARANASI: Senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid on Saturday said many youths from the US, England, France and the rest of Europe were attracted to the terrorist

VARANASI: Senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid on Saturday said many youths from the US, England, France and the rest of Europe were attracted to the terrorist organisation Islamic State (IS) because of the problem of loneliness in the western society.

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He made the comment in an interaction with journalists at the City Girls’ Inter College in Varanasi. “Only one or two people (from Kerala) went there. They came back. Hundreds of youths from France, England and America are going there,” the former union minister said in response to a query.

Asked what was the reason for the problem there, Khurshid said, “In Europe, America and France, people live alone. Because of loneliness, many youths of these countries are going there (to the IS). As far as our country is concerned, our social fabric is very strong, which keeps such things at bay.”

Khurshid advised the elderly people to guide the youths. Asked to comment on the Dr Zakir Naik issue, he said, “There should be a thorough probe into the matter. The Centre and Maharashtra government can carry out the probe. Things should not be confined to debates only.”

Asked whether India’s growing friendship with the US would have any impact on its relations with Russia, Khurshid said that there should be a balance in relations with India’s long-term friend Russia as well as the US.