33 minutes of ideas and statesmanship, PM makes an impact at UN

In his address to the United Nations General Assembly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, like a true statesman, offered a holistic view of the world, focusing on development, democracy, peace and the need to eliminate terrorism, says Suman Guha Mozumder/Rediff.com in New York.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, September 27, told the United Nations General Assembly that India is ready to engage in serious dialogue with Pakistan in a peaceful atmosphere without the shadow of terrorism. He, however, said that Islamabad should reciprocate by creating an appropriate environment for such talks.

Without referring to Pakistan, Modi said that raising bilateral issues in the United Nations does not help make progress in the relations of two countries.

In his speech on Friday, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif raked up the issue of Kashmir and demanded a resolution on the basis of a half-a-century-old UN resolution for a plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir.

"Raising issues in this forum is not the way to make progress towards resolving issues between our two countries," Modi noted. "Instead, today, we should be thinking about the victims of floods in Jammu and Kashmir. In India, we have organised massive flood relief operations and have also offered assistance for Pakistan occupied Kashmir."

"I am prepared to engage in a serious bilateral dialogue with Pakistan in a peaceful atmosphere, without the shadow of terrorism, to promote our friendship and cooperation. However, Pakistan must also take its responsibility seriously to create an appropriate environment," Modi said, speaking in Hindi before the 69th UNGA.

The prime minister said India desires a peaceful and stable environment for its development. "A nation's destiny is linked to its neighbourhood. That is why my government has placed the highest priority on advancing friendship and cooperation with her neighbours. This includes Pakistan," Modi said.

Beyond that, Modi did not refer to Pakistan again in his speech that went on for exactly 33 minutes and offered, like a true statesman, a holistic view of the world focusing on development, democracy, peace and the need to eliminate terrorism.

"And for all these to happen, the work should begin here at the United Nations," he said.

"While we speak of an inter-dependent world, have we become more united as nations?" Modi asked. "Today, we still operate in various Gs with different numbers. India, too, is involved in several. But, how much are we able to work together as G-I or G-All," he asked.

"On the one side, we say that our destinies are inter-linked, on the other hand we still think in terms of a zero sum game. If the other benefits, I stand to lose," Modi said.

Both before and after his speech, the prime minister received a huge ovation from the delegates inside the United Nations General Assembly who seemed to listen to every word that Modi said.