'Global warming increasing severity of natural disasters'

'India's welfare schemes give world a new hope'

'Fragmented world is in interest of none'

UNITED NATIONS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday exhorted the international community to stand united against terrorism, which he described as one of the biggest challenges not for any single country, but for the entire world.Addressing the 74th session of the UN General Assembly today, the Prime Minister touched on a range of issues including development, security, counter-terrorism and climate change.Lamenting on the lack of unanimity among the member states on the issue of terrorism, PM Modi said it dents those very principles that are the basis for the creation of the United Nations."We believe, that this is one of the biggest challenges, not for any single country, but for the entire world and humanity," PM Modi said while speaking in Hindi.India had proposed a draft document in 1996 on the 'Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism' (CCIT) at the General Assembly but it remained a blueprint as the member states were unable to reach a consensus. The CCIT intends to criminalise all forms of terrorism and deny terrorists, their financiers and supporters access to funds, arms and safe havens.Noting that India is a country that has given the world Buddha's message of peace, PM Modi said, "And that is the reason why, our voice against terrorism, to alert the world about this evil, rings with seriousness and outrage.""And that is why, for the sake of humanity, I firmly believe that it is absolutely imperative that the world unites against terrorism," he asserted.Prime Minister Modi also said the largest number of supreme sacrifices made by soldiers of any country for UN peacekeeping missions is from India.The Prime Minister also expressed concern over global warming and said that India was one of the leading nations in the fight against climate change whose contribution to greenhouse gas emissions was "very low"."On one hand, we are working towards achieving the target of 450 Giga Watts of renewable energy, and on the other hand, we have also taken the initiative to create the International Solar Alliance," he said.PM Modi said one of the effects of global warming was the increasing number and severity of natural disasters, and at the same time "they are appearing in new areas and in new forms.""In view of this, India has initiated the formation of the 'Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure' (CDRI). This coalition will help build infrastructure which can withstand natural disasters," Modi said.The Prime Minister said from the historic and per capita emission perspective, India's contribution to global warming was "very low"."As I came in here, on a wall at the entrance to this building, I noticed the call to make the United nations free of single use plastic I am pleased to inform this august assembly that even as I am addressing you today, a very large campaign is being started across the entire country to make India free of single use plastic," PM Modi said.Speaking about the various welfare schemes initiated by his government, PM Modi said that these programmes gave "the world a new hope" for a better tomorrow. He exuded confidence that the experience from these projects could be beneficial to those nations, who like India, are striving for development."When a developing country is able to successfully implement the world's biggest sanitation campaign within the 'Clean India Mission', building over 110 million toilets in just five years for its countrymen, all its achievements and outcomes are an inspirational message for the entire world," he said.PM Modi underlined that the public welfare projects initiated by his government are not is "not confined within the borders of India", but for the entire world."And that is the reason we draw inspiration from our motto: collective efforts, for growth of all, with everyone's trust. Our endeavours, are neither an expression of pity, nor a pretence. They are inspired by a sense of duty, and duty alone," he said.All the endeavours, PM Modi said, are centred on 1.3 billion Indians. But the dreams that these efforts are trying to fulfil, are the same dreams that the entire world, every country and society has.Pressing the international community to give a new direction to multilateralism, PM Modi said modern technology is bringing about sweeping changes in every sphere of life and a fragmented world is in the interest of none."The face of the world is changing today. Modern technology in the 21st century is bringing about sweeping changes in social life, personal life, economy, security, connectivity and international relations. In such a situation, a fragmented world is in the interest of no one," PM Modi said."Neither do we have the option to confine ourselves within our boundaries. In this new era, we will have to give new direction to multilateralism, and to the United Nations," he said.PM Modi also referred to Swami Vivekananda's historic address at the convention of Parliament of Religions in Chicago and asserted that India's message to the global community remained that of "harmony and peace" which the spiritual guru first gave in 1893."One hundred and twenty five years ago, the great spiritual guru Swami Vivekananda gave this message to the world during the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago."The message was harmony and peace. And not dissension. Today, the message from the world's largest democracy, for the International community is still the same: harmony and peace," he said.This was PM Modi's second address to the General Debate at the UN, five years after his maiden speech as Indian Prime Minister in 2014.