Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday questioned how long will India, home to the world’s second-largest population and also the largest democracy, be kept out of the decision-making structures of the United Nations.
In a spirited virtual address to the 75th UN General Assembly Session, he asserted that reform in the responses, processes, and in the very character of the global body is the “need of the hour.”
In his pre-recorded video speech to the landmark General Debate of the UNGA, Modi said the stability in the UN and the empowerment of the world body are essential for the welfare of the entire world.
His fervent push for the UN’s reforms and the much-delayed expansion of the all-powerful Security Council came as India is set to begin its two-year term as an elected non-permanent member of the 15-member UN Security Council from January 1, 2021.
“For how long will India be kept out of the decision-making structures of the United Nations? How long would a country have to wait, particularly when the transformational changes happening in that country affect a large part of the world?” the Indian PM asked.
The theme at the ongoing UNGA’s 75th Session is Covid-19 related: “The future we want, the United Nations we need, reaffirming our collective commitment to multilateralism – confronting the COVID-19 through effective multilateral action”. Most world leaders addressed the 2020 Session via pre-recorded transmission.
The Prime Minister also highlighted India’s stellar role in maintaining peace in the world as he strongly advocated for India’s permanent membership at the UN Security Council.
He also questioned the UN’s role in combating the global pandemic of Covid-19 and assured that Indian vaccines will be available to the whole world.
Highlights of PM Modi’s speech:
- If we were to make an objective assessment of the performance of the UN over the last 75 years, we see several stellar achievements. But at the same time, there are also several instances that point to the need for a serious introspection of the work of the UN.
- India is proud of the fact that it is one of the Founding Members of the UN. “On this historic occasion, I have come to this global platform to share the sentiments of 1.3 billion people of India”.
- “Over the last 8 to 9 months, the whole world has been battling the pandemic of the coronavirus. Where is the United Nations in this joint fight against the pandemic? Where is its effective response?”
- Reform in the responses, in the processes, and in the very character of the UN is the need of the hour. It is a fact that the faith and respect that the UN enjoys among the 1.3 billion people in India is unparalleled.
- But it is also true that the people of India have been waiting for a long time for the process for the reforms of the UN to get completed.
- Today, the people of India are concerned whether this reform-process will ever reach its logical conclusion. “For how long will India be kept out of the decision-making structures of the United Nations?”
- “When we were strong, we were never a threat to the world, when we were weak, we never become a burden on the world. How long would a country have to wait particularly when the transformational changes happening in that country affect a large part of the world.”
- India is that country, which in the course of maintaining peace, has lost the maximum number of its brave soldiers. Today every Indian, while seeing the contribution of India in the UN, aspires for India’s expanded role in the United Nations.
- From India’s Neighbourhood-First Policy to our Act East Policy, as well as the idea of security and growth for all in the region, or our views towards the Indo Pacific region, we have always worked for the interests of humankind and not driven by our own self-interests.
- India’s partnerships are always guided by this very principle. Any gesture of friendship by India towards one country is not directed against any third country.
- Even during these very difficult times of the raging pandemic, the pharmaceutical industry of India has sent essential medicines to more than 150 countries.
- “As the largest vaccine producing country in the world, I want to give one more assurance to the global community today. India’s vaccine production and delivery capacity will be used to help all humanity in fighting this crisis.”
- Starting from January next year, India will also fulfill its responsibility as a non-permanent member of the Security Council. India will always speak in support of peace, security, and prosperity.
- India will not hesitate in raising its voice against the enemies of humanity, the human race, and human values – these include terrorism, smuggling of illegal weapons, drugs, and money-laundering.
- Large-scale efforts are being made in India to promote women entrepreneurship and leadership. Indian women, today, are the biggest beneficiaries of the world’s largest micro-financing scheme.
- India is one of those countries where women are provided paid maternity leave of 26 weeks.
- In the changed circumstances of the post-pandemic era, we are moving forward with the vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’. A self-reliant India will also be a force-multiplier for the global economy.
PM Modi’s address at UNGA came a day after Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi tried to play Islamabad’s fake propaganda while raising the Kashmir issue. However, he had got an apt reply from the Indian representative who exposed Islamabad’s blatant lies.
India, in its response to Pakistan’s mentions during the UNGA debate,
said, “The leader of Pakistan called for those who incite hate and violence to be outlawed. Was he referring to himself? The only dispute left in Kashmir relates to the part of Kashmir that is under illegal occupation of Pakistan.”
