P20: PM describes terrorism as an enemy of humanity, calls for unity to end it

Amidst the escalating war between Israel and Hamas, PM Narendra Modi called for unity to end terrorism, saying that terror activities were against humanity. Addressing G20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit, Modi said that a divided world cannot give solutions for challenges before humanity.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that India has a unique confluence of various parliamentary practices from around the world. Addressing G20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit in the national capital here, Modi said that India's parliamentary practices have evolved and strengthened with time.

The Prime Minister said that the world must speak in one voice against terror and there should be unity in the fight against terrorism. Saying that terror activities were against humanity, he said that conflicts and confrontations being faced by world today do not benefit anyone. A divided world cannot give solutions for challenges that are arising before humanity now, he said.

PM Modi said that it is time for peace and brotherhood, stating that terrorism in any form is against humanity. He stressed the need for a human-centric approach in resolving the world's problems, saying that any obstacle standing in the way of global trust and confidence should be removed. Referring to the attack on India's Parliament House two decades ago, Modi said cross-border terrorism has remained a big concern.

Narendra Modi called upon the parliaments across the world to discuss ways to check terrorism. He pointed out that though the world was now realising the bigger challenge from terrorism is, there was lack of common ground that that became an advantage for the terrorists.

PM Modi said that the 2024 Lok Sabha election will witness participation of 100 crore voters. India has conducted over 17 general elections and 300 state assembly polls since independence, he said.

The G20 speakers' summit is being hosted by the Parliament of India under the broader framework of India's G20 Presidency. The theme of the 9th P20 Summit is 'Parliaments for One Earth, One Family, One Future,' the Prime Minister's Office said. All P20 delegates were invited to visit India again next year to witness the process of elections.

The Prime Minister has said that the elections have become efficient and transparent with the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs). India has a legacy of thousands of years of debates and deliberations in its socio-political process.

The 9th G20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit (P20) has its theme as 'Parliaments for One Earth, One Family, One Future.' The Pan-African Parliament will take part in the P20 Summit for the first time after the African Union became a member of G20 at the New Delhi G20 Leaders' Summit on 9-10 September 2023. The P20 Summit is focusing on transformation in People's Lives, women-led development, accelerating SDGs and sustainable energy transition.

A pre-P20 summit Parliamentary Forum on LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) was also held on October 12 in which they deliberated upon initiatives towards a greener and sustainable future. (with agency inputs)