‘How long will India be kept out of decision-making structures of UN?’: Modi

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today made a strong case for India's inclusion as a permanent member of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and asked how long will his country be "kept out of the decision-making structures" of the global body.

Addressing the virtual 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), he said every Indian aspires for India's expanded role in a reformed and expanded UN.

Modi held out the assurance to the world community that as the world's largest vaccine-producing country, India's vaccine production and delivery capacity will be used to help all humanity in fighting the coronavirus pandemic, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

"Today, the people of India are concerned whether this reform process will ever reach its logical conclusion. For how long will India be kept out of the decision-making structures of the United Nations?" Modi said.

"How long would a country have to wait particularly when the transformational changes happening in that country affect a large part of the world?" he said in his nearly 22-minute speech.

He said, "Reform in the responses, processes and in the very character of the UN is the need of the hour."

Modi pointed out that India is a country "which has hundreds of languages, hundreds of dialects, many sects and many ideologies. This is a country, which was a leading global economy for centuries and also one which has endured hundreds of years of foreign rule."

The PM recalled India's contributions to about 50 UN peace missions over the decades and said the country has accorded priority to the welfare of the entire world.

"India has always given priority to the welfare of the whole world. India is the country, which sent its brave soldiers to about 50 peacekeeping missions the world over to keep the peace. India is that country which, in the course of maintaining peace, has lost the maximum number of its brave soldiers," he said.

"Today we are in a different era all together... There is a big question in front of the whole world community that whether the institution that was formed under the circumstances of that time is still relevant today," Modi said in his speech.

"If we evaluate the achievements of the United Nations in the last 75 years, many achievements are seen. There are also many examples, which raise the need for serious introspection in front of the United Nations," Modi said.

The PM said it was India which initiated the 'International Day of Non-Violence' on October 2 and 'International Day of Yoga' on June 21.

Similarly, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure and the International Solar Alliance are realities today due to efforts of India, Modi said adding, "India has always thought about the interests of the whole humankind and not about its own vested interests."

He said during the raging pandemic, the pharma industry of India has sent essential medicines to more than 150 countries.

Modi said, "we are moving ahead with phase 3 clinical trials in India and in our neighbourhood. India will also help all the countries in enhancing their cold chain and storage capacities for the delivery of vaccines."