Six reasons why Sushma Swaraj's UN speech did India proud
External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj made a powerful speech at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on October 1 on “The UN at 70: A Time for Action”. Covering a wide range of topics – from national to international – the minister won accolades from all quarters.
In a series of five tweets, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Swaraj for her speech.
Just spoke to @SushmaSwaraj ji & congratulated her for the excellent speech at the @UN. A perfect articulation of key global issues.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 1, 2015These are the six takeaways from Swaraj’s 26-minute speech in Hindi:
1. Stern message to Pakistan
The external affairs minister gave a befitting reply to Pakistan’s support to terror and said in clear terms that India remains open to dialogue but talks and terror cannot go together. Responding to Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s four-point new peace initiative, made at UNGA, she said, “We do not need four points, we need just one - give up terrorism and let us sit down and talk.
She said this was precisely what was discussed and decided by the two prime ministers at Ufa in July. “Let us hold talks at the level of NSAs on all issues connected to terrorism and an early meeting of our director generals of military operations to address the situation on the border. If the response is serious and credible, India is prepared to address all outstanding issues through a bilateral dialogue,” she said.
2. International peace and security
Swaraj also took the UN to task for failing to effectively address the new challenges to international peace and security. According to her, the UN appears an ineffective institution in preventing conflicts taking place in several parts of the world, finding a permanent solution to these conflicts and showing the path of peace to a world which is going on the way of violence.
She asked the world to demonstrate that it has zero tolerance for terrorists who kill and maim innocent civilians with action based on the principle of prosecute or extradite. “Countries that provide financing to terrorists and safe havens for their training, arming and operations must be made to pay a heavy price by the international community,” she said.
3. Social and economic development
The minister emphasised the urgency of empowering the girl child to bring about a change in society. “As a woman and an elected member of Parliament, it has been my firm conviction that there is a shortcut to real social change - empowering the girl child. Our government's policy of ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ (educate the girl child to empower her) was conceived with this vision,” she said.
4. A sustainable planet
Swaraj reiterated India's reverence for the environment, which is based on traditions that have held nature as sacred. She said the health of the planet is tied to the well-being of human beings. This holistic approach guided India to call for the first International Day of Yoga, which was celebrated with much fervour in 192 countries of the world.
She also spoke of the country’s efforts in eradicating small pox and, nearly, polio. She claimed that HIV/AIDS has been controlled and more recently, Ebola. The Ebola crisis is an important example of how national action and international support can resolve a global crisis, she said.
Swaraj lamented that in recent months, the international community has been found wanting on the refugee crisis due to conflict situations in Syria, Iraq and Libya. She called for a swift response backed by political will. Mentioning Nepal and Yemen, she said India has emerged as a net security provider, assisting not only our nationals but those of other countries that sought our help. India would be hosting the first Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in November 2016 on Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction, she added.
5. Paving an Indian path
The Union minister highlighted the democratic traditions of India and also the fact that it had become the fastest growing major economy in the world. The driving force of this comprehensive renewal has been premised on the motto of “Sabka saath, sabka vikas” - an emphasis on the welfare of all our people, she said.
She minister did not forget to mention India’s outreach to the extended neighbourhood as well, renewing ancient linkages and constructing modern economic partnerships, including, most recently, a summit with 14 Pacific Island nations. “The Act East policy has replaced the earlier Look East one, with more vigorous and proactive engagement with an economically vibrant region,” she said, informing the assembly that later this month, India will host the third India Africa Forum Summit for which, for the first time, the leaders of all 54 countries of the continent have been invited.
6. UN as a banyan tree and UN Security Council reform
Reminding the assembly about the Eastern tradition, Swaraj exhorted that the world contemplate the idea of the UN as a banyan tree and work towards a better UN. The banyan tree signifies wisdom, is non-judgmental and all-encompassing. It has not one trunk, but many, growing outwards, each connected to the other, and the sky and the earth. But without constant regeneration and expansion, it withers away. “This could be the fate that awaits the UN. We have a historic opportunity to permit a renewal of this critical institution or we can condemn it to irrelevance and a tragic withering,” she said.
Talking specifically about the UN Security Council, she complained that the world continues to be dominated by wealthy and influential nations. She pressed the urgency for reform of the Security Council if we are to preserve the centrality and legitimacy of the UN as the custodian of global peace, security and development. “How can we have a Security Council in 2015 which still reflects the geo-political architecture of 1945? How can we have a Security Council which still does not give place as a permanent member to Africa and Latin America?” she said.