PM Modi address: Addressing the annual United General Assembly session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly pitched for expansion of India's role at the UN to its decision-making structures.  He said that India is proud of the fact that it is one of the Founding Members of the United Nations, but it is also true that the people of India have been waiting for a long time for the process for the reforms of the United Nations to get completed.

Also Read | Bihar Elections 2020: Former DGP Gupteshwar Pandey Meets Nitish Kumar Ahead Of Polls, Triggers Speculations About Joining JDU


While delivering his virtual address, PM exhorted the member countries to work together to battle the pandemic and questioned the role of the UN in the battle. "Over the last 8 to 9 months, the whole world has been battling the pandemic of the Coronavirus. Where is the United Nations in this joint fight against the pandemic? Where is its effective response?" PM said.

In his powerful speech, PM asserted that reform in the responses, in the processes, and in the very character of the UN is the need of the hour. It is a fact that the faith and respect that the UN enjoys among the 1.3 billion people in India is unparalleled, but people of India are concerned whether the reform-process of UN will ever reach its logical conclusion. "For how long will India be kept out of the decision-making structures of the United Nations," he said.

"When we were strong, we were never a threat to the world, when we were weak, we never become a burden on the world. How long would a country have to wait particularly when the transformational changes happening in that country affect a large part of the world," PM questioned.

India is that country, which in the course of maintaining peace, has lost the maximum number of its brave soldiers. Today every Indian, while seeing the contribution of India in UN, aspires for India’s expanded role in the United Nations, he said.

India’s vaccine production will be used to help all humanity in fighting this crisis: PM Modi

Lauding India's role in the coronavirus pandemic, PM Modi said even during these very difficult times of the raging pandemic, the pharmaceutical industry of India has sent essential medicines to more than 150 countries.

He said: "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 delivery capacity will be used to help all humanity in fighting this crisis."

Also Read: Indian Envoy Walks Out During Imran Khan's Speech On Kashmir At UN, 'Pak PM's Statement A New Diplomatic Low'

The UN General Assembly this year is largely being held online due to the coronavirus pandemic.

It was speculated that PM may give it back to Pakistan on the issue of terrorism as his speech comes after Pakistan PM Imran Khan delivered a speech dripping vitriol against India on Friday. However, PM Modi's speech had no mention of Pakistan and kept his address concise and to-the-point.

Indian diplomat had walked out as Imran Khan levelled personal attacks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, besides raising the issue of Kashmir at the assembly.

During his pre-recorded speech shown at the General Assembly earlier in the day, Khan had repeated the same allegations about India as last year focused on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) asserting they and the government were persecuting minorities.

Earlier today, India turned the mirror on Pakistan and recalled its record of genocide in Bangladesh, being a haven for terrorists and suppression of minorities. Indian UN Mission's First Secretary Mijito Vinito said on Friday: "The leader of Pakistan today called for those who incite hate and violence to be outlawed. But, as he went on, we were left wondering, was he referring to himself?"