Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed frustration at the pace of United Nations reform and its response to challenges such as terrorism and the Covid-19 pandemic, and questioned how long India would be kept away from a seat in the high table of the world body.
In a pre-recorded video address to the UN General Assembly, Modi listed the reasons why India deserves to be a part of the world body’s decision-making structures, including its contributions to peacekeeping missions, its history as a non-colonizing power, its green initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance and its actions to guarantee development and security in regions such as the Indo-Pacific.
Both Pakistan and China, with whom India is currently embroiled in a months-long border clash, found no direct mention in Modi’s 20-minute speech. There was only an indirect reference to China when he pointed out that India’s alliances are not directed against anyone, and that its development alliances arise without the ill intention of “making the partner country dependent or hapless.”
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Modi focused largely on the need to reform the UN, saying that today’s world and contemporary challenges are significantly different from the time the body was created in 1945. “Therefore, the international community is facing today to a very important question: if the The character of the institution, established in the prevailing circumstances of 1945, is it still relevant today? I ask.
“Reform in the responses, in the processes, in the character of the UN is the need of the moment … the people of India have been waiting for a long time for the completion of the reforms … Today, the people of the India is concerned about whether this reform process will ever reach its logical conclusion, ”he said.
He questioned “how long will India be kept out of UN decision-making structures,” noting that it is the world’s largest democracy with more than 18% of the world’s population.
READ ALSO | How long will India be kept out of the UN decision-making structure?: PM Modi at the UNGA
While the UN has had several achievements in the last 75 years, there are several cases that point to a “serious need for introspection”, such as wars, terrorist attacks and bloodshed. “Were the UN efforts sufficient during those times or are these efforts adequate even today?” he said.
Moving on to the global pandemic, Modi questioned whether the UN response had been effective. “Where is the UN in this joint fight against the pandemic? Where is your effective response? ” he said.
Modi cited historical and contemporary reasons for advocating a greater role for India at the UN. He noted the country’s growing economic and strategic influence and the responsible role it has played in areas ranging from peacekeeping missions to helping other nations during the pandemic.
“When we were strong, we didn’t bother the world, when we were weak, we didn’t become a burden to the world,” he said.
India’s philosophy of working for the interests of humanity, and not for its own interests, has been the driving force behind its policies such as “Neighborhood First”, “Act in the East” and “Security and Growth for All in the East. region “(SAGAR), and its approach to the Indo-Pacific, he said.
Amid the pandemic, India’s pharmaceutical industry shipped drugs to more than 150 countries. “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 distribution capacity will be used to help all of humanity fight this crisis, ”Modi said.
India is moving forward with phase III clinical trials in and around the country, will help all countries improve their cold chain and storage capacities for vaccine delivery, and its initiative for self-reliance in the post-pandemic era will be a multiplier. of strength for the global economy, he added.
Modi also highlighted his government’s national initiatives such as promoting female entrepreneurs, paid maternity leave, guaranteeing the rights of transgender people, connecting 400 million people to the banking system, freeing 600 million people from defecation to the open air and provide access to free health services for more than 500 million people.
Regarding India’s future role as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, Modi said that the experience of the world’s largest democracy will be used for the benefit of the world. “India will always speak out in support of peace, security and prosperity. India will not hesitate to raise its voice against the enemies of humanity, the human race and human values: terrorism, smuggling of illegal weapons, drugs and money laundering, ”she said.
India’s bid for permanent membership in an expanded and reformed Security Council has been endorsed by all current permanent council members except China. India recently called for text-based negotiations within a fixed deadline for UN reforms that would also ensure adequate representation of African nations.
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