How long will we have to wait for UN reforms, asks PM Modi

New Delhi, September 26

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today again made a case for India’s permanent inclusion in the United Nations Security Council, questioning how long a country will have to wait, particularly when transformative changes in that nation affected a large part of the world.

Will help world fight Covid: PM

• PM Modi became the first world leader to declare that India’s vaccine production and delivery capacity would be used for all of humanity in fighting the Covid pandemic.
• In contrast, the US has tried to commandeer supplies from all over the world only for its population while Russia has adopted a purely mercantilist approach based on the ability to pay.

Speaking in Hindi via videoconferencing, he told the General Assembly that the Indians were concerned whether this reform process would ever reach its logical conclusion? “How long will India be kept out of the decision-making structure?’’he asked.

Indirectly contrasting India’s behaviour with some new rising powers, Modi said, “When we were strong, we were never a threat to the world. When we were weak, we never became a burden on the world.” Pointing out the world of 1945 was significantly different from today’s, he asked: “ Is the 1945 character of the institution relevant even today?” He said the UN efforts to tackle various issues were sufficient.

“The world has been battling the pandemic. Where is the UN in this joint fight against Covid? Where is its effective response?” he asked. — TNS