New Delhi: Describing India as the ‘Mother of Democracy’ to emphasise India’s strong civilisational and organic linkage with the democratic ethos, Prime Minister Narendra Modi pushed for unification of all democratic forces of the world.
The first head of state to address the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Saturday, in his about 22-minutes-long speech, PM Modi said: “Yes, democracy can deliver. Yes, democracy has delivered.”
Adding a personal touch by touching on his humble beginnings, he said: “The strength of India’s democracy lies in the fact that a young tea seller is addressing the UN for the fourth time… India is a great example of vibrant democracy. Our democracy is recognised by its diversity.”
Injecting an ideological dose, Modi spoke of the idea of ‘integral humanism’ as propounded by Deen Dayal Upadhyaya: “Today is the birth anniversary of Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, the proponent of 'Ekatma Manav Darshan', meaning integral humanism or the development journey taken together, the expansion from self to universe.”
About 109 heads of state and government are expected to speak at the UNGA in person while about 60 more will address through pre-recorded video speeches.
The Indian delegation at the UNGA hall included external affairs minister Dr S Jaishankar, NSA Ajit Doval, foreign secretary Harsh V Shringla and India's Ambassador to the UN TS Sandhu.
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Also bringing in ancient Indian political thinker Chanakya and Nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore in his speech, Modi spoke on the entire range of issues that the theme of this year's UNGA session underlined—‘building resilience through hope - to recover from Covid-19, rebuild sustainably, respond to the needs of the planet, respect the rights of people, and revitalise the United Nations’.
Touting India’s achievements in the social, scientific, and public service fields, Modi welcomed all to the new land of opportunity. “When India grows, the world grows. When India reforms, the world transforms,” he said.
The PM highlighted India’s successes in the fight against the COVID 19 pandemic and specifically exhorted global vaccine production companies:: “Come, make vaccines in India.”
Without taking names, the Indian PM took meaningful potshots ostensibly at Pakistan, Afghanistan and China. “Today, the danger of regressive thinking and extremism is increasing.”
In words perhaps directed at Pakistan, he cautioned: “Countries with regressive thinking that are using terrorism as a political tool need to understand that terrorism is an equally big threat for them.”
On Afghanistan, the PM warned: “It has to be ensured that Afghanistan isn't used to spread terrorism or launch terror attacks… We also need to ensure that no country tries to take advantage of the delicate situation in Afghanistan and use it for its own selfish interests.”
Broadening his ambit of criticism, Modi added: “Our oceans are also the lifeline of international trade. We must protect them from the race for expansion. The international community must speak in one voice to strengthen a rule-based world order… In order to strengthen the rule-based world order, the international community must speak in unison.”
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