UNGA Meet highlights: Jaishankar says ‘political convenience’ shouldn't determine counter-terrorism

The world saw a glimpse of what is to come when our Chandrayaan-3 landed on the Moon, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said as he hailed the lunar mission on Tuesday in New York.

"India has entered the 'Amrit Kaal'...The world saw a glimpse of what is to come when our Chandrayaan-3 landed on the Moon," the External Affairs Minister said.

"Today, our message to the world is in digitally enabled governance and delivery in the widening ambit of amenities and services and rapidly growing infra and in our energetic start-up structure...," he added.

After a 40-day journey into space, the Chandrayaan-3 lander, 'Vikram', touched down on August 23 at the uncharted lunar South Pole making India the first country to do so.

After transversing over 100 meters on the lunar surface from the Shiv Shakti Point, the touchdown spot of the Vikram lander on the lunar surface, the Pragyan Rover was safely parked and set into sleep mode on September 2.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said that the outcomes at the G20 Summit held in New Delhi earlier this month have great significance for the international community and the African Union became a permanent member of the forum at India’s initiative.

Addressing the 78th United Nations General Assembly, Jaishankar said India began its G20 presidency by convening the Voice of the Global South Summit, recognising that growth and development must focus on the most vulnerable.

He said the world is witnessing an exceptional period of turmoil.

“At this juncture, it was with a sense of exceptional responsibility India took up the presidency of G20. Our vision of 'One Earth, One Family, One Future' sought to focus on the key concerns of the many just the narrow interests of the few,” he said.

The minister said that the African Union becoming a member of G20 should inspire the United Nations, a much older organisation, to also make the Security Council contemporary.

"Recognising that growth and development must focus on the most vulnerable, we began presidency by convening the Voice of the Global South Summit. This enabled us to hear directly from 125 nations and place their concerns on the G20 Agenda. As a consequence, issues that deserve global attention got a fair hearing. More than that, the deliberations produced outcomes that have great significance for the international community,” he said.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said that India has evolved from the era of non-alignment to the "era of Vishwa Mitra," or a friend to the world, adding that it now seeks to promote cooperation with diverse partners.

"India also seeks to promote cooperation with diverse partners. From the era of non-alignment, we have now evolved to that of 'Vishwa Mitra - a friend to the world’,” Jaishankar said while addressing the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday.

"This is reflected in our ability and willingness to engage with a broad range of nations and where necessary harmonise interests. It is visible in the rapid growth of the QUAD; it is equally apparent in the expansion of the BRICS grouping or emergence of I2U2...," he said.

Citing the example of India’s initiative at the recently concluded G20 Summit to admit the African Union as a permanent member, India on Tuesday exhorted the United Nations to get inspired “to also make the Security Council contemporary.”

At the G20 Summit in New Delhi earlier this month, the grouping of emerging and developed economies adopted the New Delhi Leaders' Declaration through consensus and included the African Union as a permanent member of the bloc.

Addressing the 78th UN General Assembly session here, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the African Union's inclusion in the G20 was a "significant step."

“It was (also) noteworthy that at India’s initiative, the African Union was admitted as a permanent member of the G20. By doing so, we gave voice to an entire continent that has long been denied its due," he said.

"Political convenience must not determine responses to terrorism, extremism and violence. When reality departs from the rhetoric, we must have the courage to call it out," Jaishankar said.

"India has entered the 'Amrit Kaal'...The world saw a glimpse of what is to come when our Chandrayaan-3 landed on the Moon. Today, our message to the world is in digitally enabled governance and delivery in the widening ambit of amenities and services and rapidly growing infra and in our energetic start-up structure," he said.

“Our latest assertion is in path-breaking legislation to reserve one-third of the seats for women in legislatures. I speak for a society where ancient traditions of democracy have struck deep modern roots. As a result, our thinking, approaches and actions are more grounded and authentic,” EAM said.

"We must never again allow an injustice like vaccine apartheid to recur. Climate Action too cannot continue to witness an evasion of historical responsibilities. The power of markets should not be utilised to steer food and energy from the needy to the wealthy. Nor must we countenance that political convenience determines responses to terrorism, extremism and violence. Similarly, respect for territorial integrity and non-interference in internal affairs cannot be exercises in cherry-picking. When reality departs from rhetoric, we must have the courage to call it out," Jaishankar said.

“Recognising that growth and development must focus on the most vulnerable, we began presidency by convening the Voice of the Global South Summit. This enabled us to hear directly from 125 nations and place their concerns on the G20 Agenda. As a consequence, issues which deserve global attention got a fair hearing. More than that, the deliberations produced outcomes that have great significance for the international community. It was also noteworthy that at India's initiative, the African Union as a permanent member of the G20. By doing so, we gave voice to an entire continent which has long been its due. This significant step in reform should inspire the United Nations, a much older organisation, to also make the Security Council contemporary,” he said.

"Respect for territorial integrity and non-interference in internal affairs cannot be exercises in cherry picking," EAM Jaishankar said.

"India also seeks to promote cooperation with diverse partners. From the era of non-alignment, we have now evolved to that of 'Vishwa Mitra - a friend to the world'. This is reflected in our ability & willingness to engage with a broad range of nations and where necessary harmonise interests. It is visible in the rapid growth of the QUAD; it is equally apparent in the expansion of the BRICS grouping or emergence of I2U2"

"This is an occasion to take stock of our achievements and our challenges even while sharing our aspirations and goals. Indeed, in regards to both, there is much that India has to share."

African Union's inclusion in G20 should inspire United Nations to also make Security Council contemporary, EAM Jaishankar said.

“Recognising that growth and development must focus on the most vulnerable, we began presidency by convening the Voice of the Global South Summit. This enabled us to hear directly from 125 nations and place their concerns on the G20 Agenda. As a consequence, issues which deserve global attention got a fair hearing. More than that, the deliberations produced outcomes that have great significance for the international community. It was also noteworthy that at India's initiative, the African Union as a permanent member of the G20. By doing so, we gave voice to an entire continent which has long been its due. This significant step in reform should inspire the United Nations, a much older organisation, to also make the Security Council contemporary.”

Referring to the West, EAM Jaishankar raised the issue of few nations setting the agenda and other nations are made to follow it. "The days when a few nations set the agenda and expected others to fall in line are over," he said.

EAM Dr S Jaishankar addresses the United Nations General Assembly in New York

"The world is witnessing an exception period of turmoil...At this juncture, it was with a sense of exceptional responsibility India took up the presidency of G20. Our vision of 'One Earth, One Family, One Future' sought to focus on the key concerns of the many just the narrow interests of the few..."

Union foreign affairs minsiter S Jaishankar began his address by saying, "World is witnessing an exceptional period of turmoil."

"Namaste from Bharat!...Our fullest support to this UNGA's theme of rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity. This is an occasion to take stock of our achievements and challenges even while sharing our aspirations and goals. Indeed, in regard to both, there is much that India has to share."

Jaishankar is expected to respond to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s “credible allegations” over Indian involvement in the killing of Pak-trained Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Nijjar in June. Deep dive