Pak Praises Killers, Doesn’t See Blood of Innocents: Swaraj at UN
Raking up the terror attack that shook US in 2001, Swaraj blamed Pakistan for spreading terrorism in the region.
Talking at the 73rd session of United Nations General Assembly, India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj brings up Pakistan’s active role in allowing terrorism to breed in South Asian region in front of other countries.
Pakistan's commitment to terrorism as an instrument of state policy has not abated one bit, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj told world leaders at the UN on 29 September, Saturday, and asked them how can India pursue talks with a nation that "glorifies killers" and allows the Mumbai attack mastermind to "roam free" with impunity.
Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj addressed the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Saturday, 29 September 2018.
In her speech, she attacked Pakistan and said “India is not sabotaging talks” and “we need a common definition of terrorism.”
Referencing the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, she said “Hafiz Saeed is still roaming freely” and accused Pakistan of calling terrorists “freedom fighters.”
She also spoke of climate change and reforms in United Nation Security Council.
'Talks With Pakistan Stopped Because of Their Behaviour'
Accusing Pakistan of sabotaging the process of peace talks, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in her United Nations address said, "Talks with Pakistan have begun many times." She clarified that if peace talks have stopped, "it was only because of their behaviour.” She added,
'26/11 Ruined Expectations of Peace'
Raking up terror attack that shook United States in 2001, Swaraj blamed Pakistan for spreading terrorism and ruining expectations of peace. She said,
"Developed Nations Should Pitch In for Climate Change"
Recognising the role of developed nations in assisting lesser equipped nations, Swaraj also highlighted what needs to be done on the climate change front.
Calls for Reform in UN Security Council
Addressing the need to reform the Security Council, Swaraj said that the concerns of developing nations should be represented. She said that the “United Nations must accept that it needs fundamental reform” and that “reform cannot be cosmetic.”
Blames Pakistan for Glorifying Terrorists
Sushma Swaraj also attacked Pakistan for “glorifying killers” and “refuses to see the blood of innocents.” She said that in India’s context, terrorism is “ bred not in some faraway land, but across our border.” She said,
“Who can be a greater transgressor of human rights than a terrorist? Those who take innocent human lives in pursuit of war by other means are defenders of inhuman behavior, not of human rights,” Swaraj said in her address.
Hails Government Schemes like Ayushman Bharat and PM Jan Dhan Yojana
Swaraj lauded the government’s schemes at the United Nations and praised the Jan Dhan Yojana as the world’s largest financial scheme. “She said,
She also hailed PM Modi’s “transformative vision” and emphasised India’s focus on welfare of women at the core of its policies. She also talked about how India is progressing towards ‘swachh’ and ‘swasthya bharat’ under PM Modi.
Sushma Swaraj Set To Deliver UNGA Address
Ahead of her address at the UNGA, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj held a series of bilateral meetings with several of her foreign counterparts discussing a host of issues, including trade, investment and capacity building.
Sushma Swaraj reached New York last Saturday, 22 September, and participated in several bilateral and multilateral meetings on the sidelines of the UNGA, including SAARC and BRICS.
(With inputs from PTI)
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