Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address at the 74th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on Friday in New York urged the world to unite against terror for the sake of humanity.
In a veiled reference to Pakistan, PM Modi said that India is a country which has given the world the message of peace, “Buddha” and not “yudh” (war), and that is why when it raises its voice against terror, it not only has seriousness, but also anger.
He asserted that terrorism is not just a challenge for one country but for the entire world.
“We believe that terrorism is not a challenge for any one country, but for all the countries and the mankind as a whole. So for the sake of mankind, the world has to unite against terror,” Modi said.
He also said that the world should not see terror in different terms.
The Prime Minister decried the lack of unanimity in fighting terrorism.
“The lack of unanimity amongst us on the issue of terrorism, dents those very principles, that are the basis for the creation of the UN,” Modi said at the 74th UNGA session.
The Prime Minister also recalled India’s contribution to peacekeeping operations. “India has contributed vehemently to the UN Peace keeping forces. We have the authority and the will to warn the world against terrorism,” the PM said.
In his 20-minute speech, Modi also called for new focus on multilateralism, and on the UN, saying that in view of the changes that are happening around the globe, “a disunited world is not in anyone’s benefit.”
He said that countries cannot afford to remain within their borders any longer.
“And in this, we have to give new focus to multilateralism, and to the UN,” Modi said.
The Prime Minister then cited Swami Vivekananda’s famous speech on religious harmony in Chicago in 1893.
“India gives the same message of harmony and peace, and not dissension,” he said.
Earlier in his speech, Modi cited the development works of his government such as Swachh Bharat, Har Ghar Jal, Jan Bhagidari and Digital India. He also spoke about the huge mandate his government received in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
The Prime Minister spoke about ‘Jan Kalyan’ to ‘Jagat Kalyan’, of helping other developing countries in facing their challenges.
This was his third address to the General Debate at the UN, five years after his maiden speech as Prime Minister in 2014.
Modi’s week-long visit to the US concluded on Friday, that saw him address the Howdy Modi event in Houston and the 74th UN General Assembly, besides holding numerous meetings with heads of state and government and business meetings.