It is telling that the sharpest of ripostes that India handed over to Pakistan in the wake of Uri attack were from women: first Eenam Gambhir, and now Sushma Swaraj.
Speaking at the 71st United Nations General Assembly in New York City on September 26, the Indian minister of external affairs not only gave Pakistan a befitting reply on issues as volatile as terrorism, Kashmir, Balochistan and others, she forefronted an important message: terrorism is the biggest human rights violation in the world today and must be fought globally.
Swaraj gave a well-rounded speech touching upon issues of climate justice, sustainability and Yoga - pet topics concerning the Indian delegation, given that New Delhi has just ratified the Paris Climate Accord, hitherto signed by major global powers like the United States and China.
However, the cherry on the cake of her sharp as a sword speech was the no-holds-barred full-on attack on terror emanating from Pakistan.
A year has passed since I stood at this hallowed podium to address members of the international community,so much has changed since then:EAM pic.twitter.com/BMTeomDYTy
— ANI (@ANI_news) September 26, 2016
EAM @SushmaSwaraj begins address to #UNGA : A year has passed since I stood at this hallowed podium to address members of the int'l comm'y pic.twitter.com/bqpn1SAIpf
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 26, 2016
Speaking in Hindi, Swaraj was addressing as much as an eager audience at home, as she was reiterating India's urgent plea to the international arena that tackling terror and isolating Pakistan on the issue was a matter of immediate strategic action.
Sanitation is also a big issue, and we have started 'Swacch Bharat Abhiyan' under which 4 lakh toilets are built in 2 lakh schools: EAM
— ANI (@ANI_news) September 26, 2016
I am very thankful to the UN for its tremendous support for International Yoga day: EAM Sushma Swaraj
— ANI (@ANI_news) September 26, 2016
Sustainability, climate justice and yoga
Highlighting the important contribution that sustainability plays in the global fight against climate change, Swaraj insisted on the phrase "climate justice", which drove home the matters of rights and responsibility, as well as reparative justice for developing countries like India.
EAM @SushmaSwaraj: We must remember that we will be defined not just by our actions, but equally, by our inaction. #IndiaUNGA pic.twitter.com/HQDraj0Hhf
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 26, 2016
She gave a nod to the important projects undertaken by the government of India in areas such as sanitation, disaster management, etc.
From managing new vaccines to managing natural disasters and mobility of human resources EAM outlines the issues discussed at #UNGA pic.twitter.com/uv29frgCyI
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 26, 2016
The sustainability developemnt goals made an early appearance in her speech.
EAM @SushmaSwaraj speaks of #SDGs:I am happy that the 17 goals adopted by this Assembly are matched by development vision of my government pic.twitter.com/5xP1rA0VD1
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 26, 2016
EAM @SushmaSwaraj speaks of an'r imp challenge: climate change - If we respect nature, nature will respect & nurture us & future generat'ns pic.twitter.com/PwZXMrQNdE
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 26, 2016
EAM @SushmaSwaraj at #UNGA on climate change and sustainability: We must curb reckless consumption & adopt lifestyles in harmony with nature pic.twitter.com/XdzJo3yZh2
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 26, 2016
She linked India's biggest cultural export - yoga - and how the UN has made it a part of its plan as an indication of India's willing and active participation in the climate policy and reorienting the lifestyle capitalism driven by consumer economies.
EAM thanks unprecedented global response for #IDY says #Yoga, the storehouse of India’s ancient wisdom, epitomises a sustainable lifestyle pic.twitter.com/rUkVhfgGd8
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 26, 2016
Terrorism as human rights violation
But she came to her elements when she broached the subject of terrorism and put forward an eloquent and articulate offence against Pakistan's state-sponsored acts of terror against India - from Pathankot to Uri in just 2016.
Who finances terror and terrorists? Same question was raised by Afghanistan on this very platform few days back : EAM Swaraj pic.twitter.com/5mTqQR3Ntb
— ANI (@ANI_news) September 26, 2016
We need to identify who gives shelter to the terrorists? How are they able to carry out such activities?. We need to uproot terrorism: EAM pic.twitter.com/7876vF9Gj4
— ANI (@ANI_news) September 26, 2016
We all have to come together to fight the scourge of terrorism, if some country is not willing then it must be isolated: EAM Sushma Swaraj
— ANI (@ANI_news) September 26, 2016
Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones at others: EAM Sushma Swaraj on Nawaz Sharif's Kashmir rant at UNGA
— ANI (@ANI_news) September 26, 2016
Swaraj said that terrorism is the gravest of human rights violations in the world today, and must be dealt with in a cooperative manner.
Sushma Swaraj at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City on September 26. (Photo credit: ANI) |
She put forward important logistical questions on funding and execution of terror plots from countries that feed off it, mincing no words and pointing a firm finger at Pakistan.
EAM begins on the most critically imp subject of terrorism, speaks of the blood & tear of victims from Paris to Pathankot & Brussels to Uri pic.twitter.com/hxcMlGw3rf
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 26, 2016
Her take on terror got a massive and immediate applause.
EAM @SushmaSwaraj at #UNGA: Terrorism is the biggest violat'n of human rights, a crime ag't humanity itself. But we must ask - who benefits? pic.twitter.com/hjTEn4JMNB
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 26, 2016
EAM on #Terrorism at #UNGA: Those who seed extr't ideologies, reap a bitter harvest. This germ of evil has grown into a hydra-headed monster pic.twitter.com/dQpQt7LwN0
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 26, 2016
Isolating Pakistan
Continuing from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech at Kozhikode, and before that young diplomat Eenam Gambhir firm reply to Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif's attempt to play victim and raising the Kashmir bogey, Swaraj left no stone unturned in the concerted effort at the onerous task that is "isolating Pakistan" in the consular circles.
EAM @SushmaSwaraj: In our midst, there are nations that still speak the language of terrorism, that nurture it, peddle it, and export it pic.twitter.com/VUu7NGmVyv
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 26, 2016
EAM responds to Pak PM Sharif: Those accusing others of human rights violations would do well to introspect & see their own egregious abuses pic.twitter.com/j04HmXKxmh
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 26, 2016
She mentioned how Pakistan has repeatedly rebuffed India's unconditional efforts at forging the Indo-Pak ties - whether they be at the PM's impromptu Lahore visit, or the Eid wishes, or cricket diplomacy, and has paid back in increasingly heinous terror attacks from Pathankot to Uri in 2016 alone.
Kashmir is an integral part of India and will remain an integral part of India: EAM Sushma Swaraj
— ANI (@ANI_news) September 26, 2016
We should adopt Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism to develop norms to prosecute terrorists: EAM Swaraj at UNGA
— ANI (@ANI_news) September 26, 2016
Balochistan versus Kashmir
Since Sharif raised the Kashmir bogey, Swaraj paid back in the same coin, literally internationalising the Balochistan gambit. Adding an element of drama to the hot button was her line "those who live in glasshouses mustn't throw stones at others".
#WATCH: "Kashmir is an integral part of India, and will always be. Pakistan should stop dreaming", says EAM Sushma Swaraj at #UNGA pic.twitter.com/1OYsdks4vf
— ANI (@ANI_news) September 26, 2016
Hindi and domestic audience
Speaking in Hindi at the UNGA was of course a conscious choice for Swaraj, who, while investing in nationalism parlour games that the domestic audience lapped up, was nevertheless able to rise above it and give it a genuine global spin.
EAM @SushmaSwaraj responds to Pak PM Sharif at #UNGA: The brutality against the Baloch people represents the worst form of State oppression
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 26, 2016
EAM @SushmaSwaraj: What pre-conditions, Mr. PM? We have, infact, attempted a paradigm of friendship without precedent. pic.twitter.com/O8KMrYO709
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 26, 2016
EAM @SushmaSwaraj concludes #UNGA address, reiterates the call for action: What happens tomorrow will depend on what we do today. pic.twitter.com/0mRNr0VkIE
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 26, 2016
While some thought that her speech would have worked better in English, the laudatory tweets that followed certainly left no doubt that Swaraj indeed had packed a punch.
WE UNDERSTAND PAIN OF NEW YORK. SAME TERROR FORCES HAVE ATTACKED US. WORLD FACING TERROR.KABUL,DHAKA,BRUSSELS, PATHANKOT, URI: @SushmaSwaraj
— GAURAV C SAWANT (@gauravcsawant) September 26, 2016
Tough, no-nonsense speech by #SushmaSwaraj signalling that the gloves are off diplomatically, from now India will work to isolate Pak
— Sagarika Ghose (@sagarikaghose) September 26, 2016
EAM @SushmaSwaraj had the mandate to launch a full frontal attack on Pakistan and she did that: @ajaishukla #NewsToday pic.twitter.com/OztmvbhlM2
— India Today (@IndiaToday) September 26, 2016
In our midst, there are nations that still speak the language of terrorism, that nurture it, peddle it, and export it: Sushma Swaraj at UN.
— Naila Inayat (@nailainayat) September 26, 2016
Like all MEA drafted speeches it was a well crafted and well written speech: Shashi Tharoor on EAM Swaraj's #UNGA speech pic.twitter.com/zRhQ13kI4i
— ANI (@ANI_news) September 26, 2016