Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered his speech at the United Nations Headquarters on September 25. Mr. Modi spoke in Hindi.
PM Modi said it was a matter of pride for developing countries that the former Minister of Maldives, Abdulla Shahid, is the President for this year’s General Assembly session.
Democracy
India is considered the mother of democracies, and its diversity is its identity, said Mr. Modi. Dozens of languages and several different lifestyles are a perfect example of the country’s vibrant democracy, said the PM.
A boy who sold tea at a Railway Station to help his father is now addressing the United Nations General Assembly for the fourth time, said Mr. Modi.
Democracy can deliver, and democracy has delivered, emphatically said the Prime Minister. And this, he noted from his experience as the longest-serving Chief Minister of Gujarat and seven years as the prime minister.
Development activities in the country
Quoting Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya’s doctrine ‘Ekatma Manav Darshan’ (Integral Humanism), the PM said it translates to ‘Antyodaya’ in the modern-day, which means that no one is left behind.
More than 30 million people opened bank accounts during the last seven years, and 60 million people have received health insurance, said Mr. Modi.
Over 500 million people gained access to quality health services in the country, he said.
He added that millions of houses were built, and over 170 million people were provided with clean water.
Digital India
While many people worldwide do not possess property rights, India has surveyed 6 lakh villages, and crores of people are being awarded a digital record of their ownership, Mr. Modi said.
When India grows, the world grows. When India reforms, the world transforms, the PM said.
Touting the country’s ‘soft power,’ the PM pointed out that over 350 crore transactions happen every month on the Unified Payments Interface.
Vaccine delivery platform Cowin made one crore vaccines a day possible, he said.
COVID-19 Vaccines and Supply Chains
Quoting ‘Seva Paramo Dharma,’ the PM said that India had resumed the export of vaccines.
The country has produced the world’s first DNA vaccine, which can be administered to those 12 years and older, and the mRNA vaccine is in the final phase, while even a nasal vaccine is also being made in India, the PM said.
The Prime Minister called on the global pharmaceutical giants to come and manufacture in India.
While technology plays a huge role in human life, combining it with democratic values is ever more important in this rapidly changing world, he said.
Doctors of Indian origin or Engineers, anywhere in the world, will indulge in service, and it was evident during the coronavirus pandemic, the Prime Minister said.
On that note, the PM spoke of the need for resilient global supply chains and said Atmanirbhar Bharat would accomplish that.
India is a democratic and trustworthy partner to the world, he said.
Clean Energy
Economy and ecology need to be balanced, the PM said, adding that India is on a faster pace towards producing 450 GW of renewable energy by 2030, and gave the example of the country’s ‘Green Hydrogen Hub’ plans.
On Extremism and situation in Afghanistan
Regressive thinking and extremism are on the rise, but it is the science-based rationale and progressive thinking that must prevail, said the Prime Minister.
Without taking names, he said that any country that uses terrorism as a political tool must understand that it is dangerous for them too.
And Afghanistan’s soil must not be a breeding ground for terror, he said. The country’s volatility must not be used as a political tool for selfish reasons, he emphasized.
‘People of Afghanistan need assistance, and we will fulfill our responsibility,’ he added.
On Expansionism
The Indian leader said that the seas must be used and not abused.
Both expansion and exclusion are dangers, and rules-based order must be protected, he said, and called for the International community to raise its voice as one.
UN Reforms
The Prime Minister commended India’s execution of duties while holding the Presidency of the Security Council.
India’s great philosopher and advisor Chanakya said a long time ago that when the appropriate thing is not done at the correct time, the time will consume it.
UN must solidify its credibility, he said, pointing out that it had faced questions regarding Climate Change, COVID-19, World’s Proxy Wars, and the Afghan Situation.
On that note, the Prime Minister raised the issue of the origins of the COVID-19.
UN must be strengthened to preserve global order and values, he said.
Closing his speech with Rabindranath Tagore’s words of advice, which translated to ‘proceed with conviction, and nothing shall bother you,’ the Prime Minister said that it is applicable to the UN and also every responsible nation.