New Delhi: Coming down heavily on Pakistan, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president M Venkaiah Naidu on July 5 said the country had become the epicentre of terrorism and deprecated the "double standards" being adopted by certain countries.

Addressing an international conference of Telugu people organised by the Telugu Association of North America (TANA) at San Jose in California, he said India was capable of fighting terrorism.

"But it is ridiculous that Pakistan is on the one hand part of the coalition against terrorism on its Western border and simultaneously, by encouraging terrorism in the Eastern border, making it an instrument of state policy.

"The biggest threat to the world is from 'jihadi' fundamentalists. We must join together to fight terrorism wherever it is and in whichever form it is," he said.

Naidu said vested interests were carrying out a lot of negative propaganda against India on the issue of secularism.

"Secularism is in the blood of every Indian and it is a part of their ethos. No discrimination has ever been shown towards the minorities and they are more safe and secure in India than any other country in the world. Minorities have reached the highest positions in political, administrative and public life," he said.

PTI