Prime Minister Narendra Modi is addressing the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) today (i.e. September 26, Saturday). At the session, the Prime Minister made the case for India to be allowed into the UN's decision-making body, hinting at the Security Council, the UN body responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the general debate of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) today (i.e. September 26, Saturday). At the session, the Prime Minister made the case for India to be allowed into the UN's decision-making body, the Security Council, responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security.
Prime Minister Modi reasoned the immense contributions that India has made at the UN over the years and said that given all that has been done, India is still not allowed a greater role in the intergovernmental body's decision-making structures, referring to the fact that India has not been made a permanent member at the UN Security Council.
Making a strong pitch for India`s inclusion as a permanent member of United Nations Security Council, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said "reform in the responses, in the processes, and in the very character of the United Nations is the need of the hour" and wondered as to how long India with its unique contribution to the UN will be "kept out of the decision-making structures" of the world body.
The Prime Minister said that the international community is faced with a very important question about the relevance of United Nations as the "requirements and challenges" of the present as well as the future are vastly different from those when the world body was constituted in 1945.
"This is a country, which has hundreds of languages, hundreds of dialects, many sects, and many ideologies; This is a country, which was a leading global economy for centuries and also one which has endured hundreds of years of foreign rule. How long would a country have to wait particularly when the transformational changes happening in that country affect a large part of the world?" he asked.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at the UNGA, "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 United Nations 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?"
Stability in the UN and its empowerment is essential for the welfare of the world, PM Modi told the UNGA session.
Barring China, all other four permanent members of the UNSC have expressed support for India`s candidature for a permanent seat in the security council.
Modi said that every Indian while seeing the contribution of India in the United Nations, aspires for India`s expanded role in the body.
He also referred to India`s contributions to about 50 UN peace missions over the decades.
"India has always given priority to the welfare of the whole world. India is the country, which sent its brave soldiers to about 50 peacekeeping missions the world over to keep the peace. 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 United Nations, aspires for India`s expanded role in the United Nations," he said.
He called for a "serious introspection of the work of the United Nations" as there have been several wars, terrorist attacks which shook the world.
The Prime Minister said in these wars and in these attacks, the people who died, "they are people just like you and me".
"The world of 1945 was significantly different from today`s world. In the 21st century, the requirements and challenges of our present, as well as our future, are vastly different from those of the past," he said.
He said there are also several instances that point to the need for a serious introspection of the work of the United Nations.
"One could say that we have successfully avoided a third World War. But we cannot deny that there have been several wars and many more civil wars. Several terrorist attacks shook the world and rivers of blood have continued to flow by. In these wars and in these attacks, the people who died, they are people just like you and me. Hundreds and thousands of children, who would have otherwise enriched this world with their presence, have left us prematurely," he said.
PM Modi was the first speaker in the forenoon of September 26. He also said that India stands strongly against terrorism, drugs, money laundering, and crime of any and all kinds.
Highlighting India's efforts towards containing the coronavirus pandemic, PM Modi said that India`s coronavirus vaccine production and delivery capacity will help all humanity in fighting the pandemic.
"Even during these very difficult times of the raging pandemic, the pharmaceutical industry of India has sent essential medicines to more than 150 countries," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the United Nations General Assembly through a video message on Saturday.
The phase-3 trial of the coronavirus vaccine `COVAXIN` in India is scheduled to start in Lucknow and Gorakhpur from October.
"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," he added. Also, the Serum Institute of India is all set to begin phase three trials of the Covishield Vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University at Sassoon General Hospital in Pune.
PM Modi further said in India and in "our neighbourhood, we are moving ahead with phase 3 clinical trials in India" adding, "India will also help all the countries in enhancing their cold chain and storage capacities for the delivery of the Vaccines."
Further in the address, PM Modi said despite the ongoing pandemic, India is moving towards a "Self Reliant India" adding that it would be a " Force Multiplier for the Global Economy"."In the changed circumstances of the post-pandemic era, we are moving forward with the vision of a Self-reliant India. A Self-reliant India will also be a Force Multiplier for the Global Economy," the prime minister said.
The theme of the 75th UNGA is “The future we want, the United Nations we need, reaffirming our collective commitment to multilateralism - confronting the Covid-19 through effective multilateral action’.
During the ongoing 75th session of the UN General Assembly, India's priority will be to further strengthen global action against terrorism.
(With agency inputs)
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 "India, United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), United Nations (UN), Prime Minister, Narendra Modi")
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