PM Modi invokes Tagore ‘to overcome obstacles’ in his address to UN General Assembly

Sept. 25: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in person on Saturday at the New York City. In his address, the Indian Prime Minister questioned the lack of transparency and inaction regarding issues around Covid-19 origin & Ease of Doing Business rankings in recent times and emphasizes the need to strengthen the organization for the betterment of the 21st century world. He also took a strong stand against state-sponsored terrorism that has paralysed several nations across the globe.

“The strength of India’s democracy lies in the fact that a young tea seller is addressing the UN for the 4th time,” the Prime Minister said in his opening remarks. The theme for this year’s General Debate is ‘Building Resilience through hope to recover from COVID-19, rebuild sustainably, respond to the needs of the planet, respect the rights of people, and revitalise the United Nations”.

PM Shri @narendramodi Ji questions the lack of transparency and inaction regarding issues around Covid-19 origin & Ease of Doing Business rankings in recent times and emphasizes the need to strengthen the organization for the betterment of the 21st century world. #PMModiatUNGA pic.twitter.com/eM5LdCNDP6

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) September 25, 2021

Noting that the danger of regressive thinking and extremism is increasing in the world, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that it is absolutely essential to ensure that Afghanistan territory is not used to spread terrorism and for terrorist activities. “It is absolutely essential to ensure that Afghanistan territory is not used to spread terrorism and for terrorist activities,” he added.

A lot of questions are being raised on the UN today. We had seen these questions during Climate crisis, and now more recently during COVID.

The proxy wars ongoing in several parts of the world and the current Afghan crisis further embolden these questions.#PMModiAtUNGA pic.twitter.com/NG9Glx38yZ

— BJP (@BJP4India) September 25, 2021

PM Modi quoted words of Indian strategist Chanakya, who had said, “When the right action is not taken at the right time, then it is time itself that causes the action to fail.” The Prime Minister ended his address by quoting Rabindranath Tagore (in Bengali), “Boldly proceed on the path of good deed and may you overcome all the obstacles in the way”.