9 key takeaways from PM Narendra Modi's UNGA address

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's maiden address at the UN on Saturday touched many topics and deftly, also sent strong message to our neighbours. Modi started his address by giving tribute to India's ancient civilizational traditions.

Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam

Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened his historic United Nations General Assembly with Prime Minister Narendra Modi started his maiden speech in UNGA by explaining India's philosophy and it's view of the world. Giving a tribute to India's ancient civilisational traditions Modi said that India's philosophy was that of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,' or world family. He also said that this has guided the nation since Vedic times and has taught the country to treat the whole world as a one family.

By saying so, he explained our rational behind CARING for NEIGHBOURS and also implied that love for PEACE & HAPPINESS comes to us naturally, as it has been our core belief from centuries & is a part of Indian philosophy.

G-all

In his speech, Modi also said that India wants growth for all. Rejecting unilateralism, Modi said that no one country could handle the world's problems and raised questions on why has the world been divided into multiform platforms.

He emphasized on the G-all and said, "Why is it that despite having a wonderful platform like the UN, we still operate in various Gs with different numbers?"

"The names of groupings keep changing...G-5, G-7, G-20 and so on. India too is involved in several. But how much are we able to work together as G-1 or G-All? What we need is a G-All. Why can't we have a G-All grouping? We need to think how to create a G-all atmosphere when the UN is about to celebrate its 70 years," he said.

Terrorism

Narendra Modi also talked about the biggest threat to the world, which is terrorism. Modi said that terrorism is appearing in new forms and no country - big or small - is free from it. Taking a dig at the people who talk about good and bad terrorism, Modi said that talking about Good terrorism, bad terrorism raises questions on our sincerity to fight terrorism.

Modi also stressed on global cooperation in tackling terrorism and said, "Terrorism is taking a new shape and new name. No country, big or small, in the north or the south, east or west, is free from its threat."

Message to Pakistan

Talking about holding talks with Pakistan, Narendra Modi deftly gave a message to our neighbor and said that raising theKashmir issue at the UNGA platform will not yield any results.

Modi said, "I want to hold bilateral talks to improve friendship and cooperation in all seriousness and in an atmosphere of peace without a shadow of terrorism."

"But this is also the duty of Pakistan to come forward and create the appropriate atmosphere and with all seriousness come forward for a bilateral dialogue."

Referring to the severe floods which ravaged the state of Kashmir, Modi said,, "Helping the locals at this hour should be top priority." Modi offered to help the suffering on the other side of the Line of Control too.

UN reforms

In his speech Narendra Modi made a call to bring reforms in the United Nations and said, "Let us fulfil promise to reform the UN security council by 2015."

"We must reform the United Nations, including the Security Council, and make it more democratic and participative, Modi urged.

"Institutions that reflect the imperatives of 20th century won't be effective in the 21st. It would face the risk of irrelevance; and we will face the risk of continuing turbulence with no one capable of addressing it," he added.

International Yoga Day and change in lifestyle

Narendra Modi who always thinks out-of-the-box also talked about Yoga on the international forum and said that it is not just exercise but can provide answers to climate change. He said, "When we talk of holistic health care or going back to back to basics, I want to particularly mention Yoga."

Describing Yoga as an invaluable gift of India's tradition to the world, Modi said, "It is not about exercise but to discover the sense of oneness with yourself, the world and the nature. By changing our lifestyle and creating consciousness, it can help us deal with climate change," he said.

Advocating Yoga he said, "Let us work towards adopting an International Yoga Day."

Trade, development and economy

The Prime Minister called upon cooperation between developed and the emerging markets for bring development not in one country but in the world. He also said that "let's understand each other's concerns and work accordingly to bring better results."

He also hinted at India's concerns about the WTO pact and said that agreements on such things should accommodate each other's concerns and interests.
He also said that to eradicate economic problems at a faster pace, globalisation has given birth to several possibilities and urged the world to make full use of it.

He also said that a more comprehensive and concerted international action is needed to improve these things:

• 2.5 billion people without access to basic sanitation
• 1.3 billion people without access to electricity
• 1.1 billion people without access to drinking water

Sustainable World

Emphasising on the collective approach to things in future, Modi said "The world had agreed on a beautiful balance of collective action - common but differentiated responsibilities. That should form the basis of continued action."

Talking about how to bridge down the gap between developed and developing countries he said, "This also means that the developed countries must fulfill their commitments for funding and technology transfer."

"Let us fulfill our pledge on a Post-2o15 Development Agenda so that there is new hope and belief in us around the world. Let us make 2015also a new watershed for a sustainable world. Let it be the beginning of a new journey together," Modi urged the gathering.

Global Development

Talking about the growth, development and improvement in countries Modi gave exampled of growing technology and said, "If you think of the speed with which Facebook or Twitter has spread around the world, if you think of the speed with which cell phones have spread, then you must also believe that development and empowerment can spread with the same speed."

Talking about constructive role and supporting each other's needs Modi said, "We also require a genuine international partnership. At one level, it means a better coordination of policy so that our efforts becomes mutually supportive, not mutually damaging."