India promotes peace, not war, says PM Modi in UNGA speech
Live MintNew Delhi: Terrorism is a global problem that needs to be tackled in a united manner, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the United Nations on Friday as he burnished India’s credentials as a messenger of peace, rather than of war or dissension. “The message from the world’s largest democracy today is the same.” In his much-awaited speech to the UN General Assembly that lasted about 15 minutes, Modi stressed on India’s many global contributions that held lessons for other nations, rather than allowing himself to be limited by regional matters. Modi also showcased India’s achievements of the past five years, including the national sanitation mission, the launch of the world’s biggest health insurance scheme, besides the largest financial inclusion and biometric identity programmes, the experience and benefits of which, he added, could be shared by all countries. Listing out the achievements of his government in his first term in office, Modi said as a developing country, India had managed to ensure it was an open defecation-free society, made sure that the world’s largest health insurance scheme had reached all the needy people, and millions of bank accounts opened to ensure financial inclusion.