New Delhi, Oct 13: In the midst of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized that terrorism, in any corner of the world and in any form, is fundamentally against humanity. He emphasized that now is the time for peace, brotherhood, and collective progress.
Addressing the inaugural session of the ninth G20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit (P20) held in New Delhi, he also stressed the need to eliminate barriers that hinder global trust and underscored the significance of adopting a human-centric approach in global affairs.
The Prime Minister’s remarks were made in the context of recent attacks on Israeli towns by Hamas militants, which escalated tensions in the region. He highlighted the longstanding issue of cross-border terrorism faced by India, emphasizing the detrimental impact of terrorism on humanity.
Modi expressed his disappointment at the lack of consensus on the definition of terrorism and the resulting advantage taken by the enemies of humanity. He urged parliaments around the world to contemplate how they can collaborate to combat terrorism effectively.
During his address, the Prime Minister also mentioned that India, as the G20 presidency, celebrated festivities throughout the year, including the historic Chandrayaan-2 mission landing on the moon. He extended an invitation to all P20 delegates to return next year and observe the general elections in India, where an estimated 100 crore voters will cast their ballots. Modi highlighted the transparency and efficiency brought about by the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in Indian elections, resulting in the rapid declaration of election results.
He concluded by underlining the rich tradition of debates and deliberations in India, with some texts dating back over 5,000 years that advocated for such systems.
The P20 Summit is attended by Speakers of Parliaments from G20 member countries and invitee nations. The Pan-African Parliament, after its inclusion in the G20 following the New Delhi G20 Leaders’ Summit last month, is participating in the P20 Summit for the first time. The thematic sessions of the summit will cover various subjects, including the transformation of people’s lives through public digital platforms, women-led development, the acceleration of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and a sustainable energy transition.
