In his 22-minute address at the UNGA in New York – his fourth so far – the Prime Minister also praised the role played by India in combating the COVID-19 pandemic and made scathing remarks on Pakistan and China.
Here are five key excerpts from PM Modi’s address:
Pakistan
PM in veiled attack on Pakistan Modi He said countries with “regressive thinking” that are using terrorism as a “political tool” should understand that it poses an “equally great threat” to them.
India has often criticized Pakistan for providing safe havens to terrorists.
The prime minister also called for ensuring that no country tries to “take advantage of the fragile situation in Afghanistan and use it for their own selfish purposes.”
“Today the world is facing the growing menace of regressive thinking and extremism. In such a situation, the whole world should make science based, rational and progressive thinking the basis of development. To strengthen the science based approach, India should be based on experience-based is promoting education,” he said at the UNGA meeting.
The previous government of Afghanistan and India as well as Pakistan’s neighbors including the US have long accused Islamabad of providing safe haven and support to terrorists.
Pakistan’s ISI has close ties with the Afghan Taliban, including its dreaded faction, the Haqqani Network, which took control of Kabul last month.
On Friday, India slammed Pakistan in both Washington and the United Nations as Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan appealed to the world to work with Afghanistan’s victorious Taliban.
According to Indian officials, PM Modi raised concerns about Pakistan during talks with US President Joe Biden as well as a comprehensive four-way summit with leaders from Australia and Japan, who said others agreed.
Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla told reporters after the White House talks, “There was a clear understanding that a more careful investigation of Pakistan’s role in Afghanistan and a more careful investigation and monitoring – Pakistan’s role on the issue of terrorism – had to be put in place.” ” .
China
In his speech, PM Modi stressed on the need to save the oceans from the “race of expansion and exclusion”.
PM Modi said, “Our oceans are also the lifeline of international trade. We must save them from the race for expansion.”
India and China have long competed for influence in the Indian Ocean.
PM Modi said that the international community should speak in one voice to strengthen the rules-based world order.
Speaking in Hindi, PM Modi said the broad consensus at the UN Security Council during India’s presidency in August showed the world the way forward for maritime security.
During their bilateral talks on Friday, both PM Modi and President Joe Biden welcomed increased cooperation under the Quad Grouping, including in the multilateral domain.
The countries reiterated their shared vision of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region with respect to territorial integrity and sovereignty, and international law.
India, the US, Japan and Australia are involved in the quad or quadrilateral security talks.
India, the US and several other world powers are talking about the need to ensure a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of China’s increasing military maneuvers in the resource-rich region.
China claims almost all of the disputed South China Sea, although Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam all claim parts of it. Beijing has built artificial islands and military installations in the South China Sea. China also has territorial disputes with Japan in the East China Sea.
COVID-19
The Prime Minister began his speech by paying tribute to the lakhs of people who lost their lives in the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said, “In the last 1.5 years, the whole world is facing the worst pandemic in 100 years, I pay tribute to all those who have lost their lives in this deadly pandemic and I extend my condolences to their families. ”
The Prime Minister appreciated the role played by India in helping the world deal with the pandemic.
“India, which lives on seva paramo dharma (service is the main duty), is engaged in vaccination development and manufacturing despite limited resources. I would like to inform UNGA that India has developed the world’s first DNA vaccine, called Can be administered to all people above the age of 12 years,” Modi said.
The PM said, “Another mRNA vaccine is in the final stages of development. Scientists in India are also engaged in the development of a nasal vaccine for corona.”
He said that India’s vaccine delivery platform – COWIN, is providing digital support for hundreds of millions of vaccine doses in a single day.
He said India has also started giving vaccines to the world’s needy, citing the government’s plan to restart exports of anti-Covid shots next month.
The Prime Minister used the platform to invite global vaccine manufacturers to “Make in India”.
United Nations Reform
The Prime Minister also strongly advocated for reforms in the United Nations to protect the global order, global laws and global values.
He said that recently the credibility of bodies like the United Nations on issues like the origin of Kovid-19 and the climate crisis has come under question.
“We have seen such questions arise regarding the climate crisis and during the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
The World Health Organisation, the health agency of the United Nations, has faced criticism since the outbreak of COVID-19 first emerged in China in December 2019.
The WHO faced criticism for its handling of the crisis.
PM Modi further said that the ongoing proxy war in many parts of the world, terrorism and the recent crisis in Afghanistan have further exposed the seriousness of these questions.
“With regard to the origins of COVID-19 and the Ease of Doing Business rankings, institutions of global governance have damaged the credibility they have built after decades of hard work,” he said.
The World Bank recently said it was shutting down its major Doing Business publication, citing “data irregularities” in recent editions of the global business climate index.
The decision was taken in 2017 after an investigation into data irregularities allegedly due to pressure by some top bank officials to boost China’s rankings.
“It is imperative that we continue to strengthen the United Nations to protect the global order, global laws and global values,” Modi said.
Democracy
PM Modi said that he represents a country which is known as the “mother of democracy”.
Prime Minister India’s great tradition of democracy which is thousands of years old.
He said, “I represent the country which is known as the mother of democracy. India is entering 75 years of its independence this year. Our diversity is the hallmark of our strong democracy.”
“In a country with dozens of languages, hundreds of dialects, different lifestyles and cuisines, this is the best example of a vibrant democracy,” he said.
He also cited his rise from a tea vendor at a railway station to prime minister to underline the strength of India’s democracy.
“Yes, democracy can deliver, democracy will deliver,” he said.
(with inputs from agencies)
.