On the 26th of September, 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke at the United Nations General Assembly’s 75th session, with the theme being "The Future we want, the United Nations we need: reaffirming our collective commitment to multilateralism”. This was Modi’s second time addressing the UNGA, the first being in 2014.
Highlighting the need for India to be an active participant in the decision-making process of the UN, he reaffirmed the necessity of reforming the response, process and character of the world organization. He also brought up several issues like terrorism, the reaction to the pandemic and the relevance of the UN of 1945, while also glorifying his own government’s work, which has always been the nucleus of his oratory-style. Here’s a breakdown of the deliverance.
The UN and its relevance
PM Modi called for the introspection of the work of the UN while also applauding its efforts over the last 75 years. Acknowledging that although a third world war has been avoided, several civil wars and terror attacks have resulted in severe bloodshed and loss of innocent human life, with little or no intervention by the UN. He brought to attention the fact that the world in 1945 was very different from the one we live in today, with a plethora of problems and challenges that are in stark contrast to those faced during the drafting of the original Charter. [1]
The introspection is indeed necessary. While the UN claims to be a democratic organization, and is seen as one in the character of its General Assembly, with member-states accounting for one vote each, the General Assembly rarely has the authority to enforce its resolutions. It is but a global platform for national leaders to deliver long-drawn speeches, with the real power residing in the Security Council.
Historically, the SC does not boast of a fair upkeep of the mandate of the Charter. Although it utilized its powers to impose sanctions against Iran’s nuclear program and authorized military intervention in Libya, its five permanent members hold the greatest power of all- the veto. The P5- Britain, USA, China, France and Russia have often used its veto power to promote personal agenda, with the USA vetoing resolutions on Israeli-Palestinian relations and Russia vetoing resolutions concerning Syria. Although the GA has the authority to step in and act if a threat is posed to international security, it has rarely done so. [2]
The founding mandate has not been actualized and several fundamental human rights like education, equal pay for work and to nationality is far from being realized.
India and the UN
India was one of the founding members of the UN, strongly supporting its ideals and principles and has made significant contributions in implementing the Charter. The call for solidification of India’s role in the UN by PM Modi is warranted, with the country accounting for 18% of the global population and showcasing the diversity of language, culture and ideology, and being a forerunner in economy and self-reliance. The PM also emphasized on the role of India in peacekeeping missions, with its contributions amounting to a total of 50 missions in Korea, Egypt, Congo, Haiti, Lebanon and many others.
As previously established, the real power lies in the Security Council of which India has held a non-permanent seat 8 times. India, along with Brazil, Japan and Germany (G4) advocate for their permanent seats in the UNSC on the basis of their invaluable contributions to the world. Although the other four nations back India’s demand, China has been stonewalling the efforts. [3]
Indian ideologies run very closely with the essence of the UN, with Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam residing at its very core. The PM also highlighted the adoption of International Yoga Day and Non-Violence Day by the UN, missions spearheaded by India. India’s contribution to the UN is irrefutable.
While the PM claimed that India’s partnership with one country is not against some other, the Look-East Policy of India has been cultivated as a strategic counterweight to the Chinese String of Pearls and has gained ground only post the Sino-Indian War of 1962. [4]
The Pandemic
The PM criticized the UN for its ineffectiveness in combating the global pandemic. He also mentioned the essential medicines exported by India to more than 150 countries during these trying times and proclaimed that as the largest vaccine producing country in the world, India will also play a major role in inventing the vaccine against
COVID-19, with the 3rd phase of clinical trials in progress.
The inadequacy of the UN during the pandemic has been criticized by all world leaders, with Trump revoking US funding to the WHO. Although Trump’s showcase of disapproval was rather reckless- depriving WHO of US funding which is cardinal, helps no one. The underlying fact of the matter is that the passive effort displayed by the body is underwhelming. Even though the General Secretary has called for the unified effort from all member-states in fighting the virus, the SC has come to a halt due to the conflict between two of the P5 members, China and USA, over the origin of the virus. [5] With the SC MIA, the General Assembly called for a united front to be displayed in response to the pandemic, but to no avail. With the Secretary General blaming the countries for lack of coordination, particularly between China and the USA, Trump blaming China for the virus and WHO for its futile response, and all the countries in total chaos, [6] this vicious cycle appears to be boundless, with cases on the sharp rise.
Applauding his own Government
No speech by PM Modi is complete without him tooting his own government’s horn, hailing milestones achieved in the last six years.
Having connected 400 million people to the banking system was certainly not an easy task, as stated by Modi. But based on the RBI report of 2018, only 0.7% of the demonetized notes were junked, shedding the substantial weight of black money, which was the backbone of the operation. It can be debated that the losses were greater than the gains with 1.5% drop of GDP in terms of growth, 15 crore daily wage earners losing livelihood, thousands of SME units shut down and lakhs of jobs destroyed. The RBI spent close to Rs. 13,000 crore over the next two years to remonetise Indian money market in the post-demonetisation phase. [7]
Modi also claims to have freed 600 million people from Open Defecation, but a survey released by the National Statistical Office (NSO) in November 2019 claimed that about 28.7% of rural households across India still lacked access to any form of latrines and 3.5% of those who have access to latrines, don't use it. [8]
The “Modicare” healthcare scheme for citizens below poverty line targets around 500 million people but its implementation is a herculean task [9], and PM Modi’s announcement that it has been accomplished is far from reality.
Modi also mentioned his Atmanirbhar campaign is of pressing priority in a post-COVID world and emphasized that there is no discrimination in extending the benefits of all the schemes to every citizen of the country, but there is no dearth of atrocities against Dalits and other marginalized communities that go unseen. He highlighted the government’s contribution to Women Enterprise and Leadership and paid maternity leave of 26 weeks, but its execution is sparse. He also brought up the rights of transgender persons, but the law is far from perfect, with the District Magistrate holding the power to “qualify” a person as transgender and the law being contrary to international standards of legal gender recognition. [10]
Conclusion
As is tradition, the Prime Minister lauds his government, with lofty claims and rhyming phrases. One may argue that the laws are in place, but the canyon between passing of a law and its implementation is rather grand. The PM brought to light certain salient points to promote India’s claim of becoming a permanent member, which undoubtedly needed to be addressed. Overall, giving credit where credit is due, Prime Minister Modi is an exceptional orator who is certain to have captivated member-states and viewers alike at the UNGA.
Article by-
Smrithi Shree,
Co-Editor,
For the Record,
PES MUN Society
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