Uphold rights of all citizens, allow them to protest: Kerry

New Delhi, Aug 31 (PTI) US Secretary of State John Kerrytoday stressed on the need for upholding rights of allcitizens, regardless of ethnicity, language or creed, sayingpeople should be allowed to protest in peace without fear ofbeing jailed. His remarks come just days after the US spoke out insupport of freedom of expression after Amnesty Internationalwas slapped with a sedition charge in Bengaluru. "The US and India will have to keep faith in ourdemocratic values and uphold the freedom that defines ourcountries," Kerry said a gathering at the IIT here. He said one has to respect rights of all our citizens,regardless of ethnicity, language or creed. "In order to express their views and allow them to protestin peace without fear of reprisal or retribution, without fearof being jailed for something you say," he said while speakingon the need to strike at the root cause of terrorism, which hesaid differed from country to country. He, however, singled out corruption and bad governance asone of the main reason for leaving youngsters frustrated. "We have to work cooperatively and in good faith thatterrorists have no place to run, no place to hide and no placeto plan and prepare the future," he said. Kerry said one must not allow terrorists to succeed and itwas important to strike at the root cause. He said a society which does not give equal opportunitiesto its citizens makes them a potential extremist or terrorist. "So it also means that we have to build bridges oftolerance and acceptance, compassion, mutual understandingamong every religion and sect," he said. He urged those involved in interfaith efforts to reach outand define tolerance and also the beauty of their religion.PTI SAP SMJ ZMNSMJ