India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar Saturday outlined the Modi government's world view before the UN General Assembly, saying India offers partnerships "to our brothers and sisters in Asia, Africa and Latin America" as it believed that multipolarity, rebalancing, fair globalisation and reformed multilateralism "cannot be kept in abeyance" any longer. 

Seeking to project the country as a global leader, Jaishankar, who is representing his county at the special session in the absence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said under Modi's leadership India was seeking to liberate itself "from a colonial mindset" and was seeking to make its rich civilizational heritage "a source of pride and strength". 

As India celebrates the 75th anniversary of its Independence, he said the Indian people "are rejuvenating a society pillaged by centuries of foreign attacks and colonialism". 

He attributed the "New India" that “is a confident and resurgent society" to "the visionary and dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi".

India’s “age-old outlook”, he said, “sees the world as one family. We believe that national good and global good can be entirely in harmony”.

“Even as we meet our own development targets, India offers partnerships to our brothers and sisters in Asia, Africa and Latin America. And we do so based on their needs and priorities”, he added.

Externally, leaving the colonial mindset means "reformed multilateralism and more contemporary global governance", Jaishankar said. 

"We believe that multipolarity, rebalancing, fair globalisation and reformed multilateralism cannot be kept in abeyance", he said.

He said that a reformed multilateralism would have  Security Council reforms at its core, pointing out that it has considerable support among UN members.

To reform the Council, “our call is to allow serious negotiations on such a critical matter to proceed sincerely. They must not be blocked by procedural tactics. Naysayers cannot hold the IGN process hostage in perpetuity”, Jaishankar said.

The Intergovernmental Negotiations, or IGN as the reform process is known, has been blocked by a small group of countries led by Italy and includes Pakistan which has prevented the adoption of a negotiating text to allow the process move forward.

Pitching India’s case for a permanent seat, he said, “In these turbulent times, it is essential that the world listens to more voices of reason. And experiences more acts of goodwill. India is willing and able on both counts”.

Jaishankar called for ‘zero tolerance' for terrorism and warned that those who prevent UN sanctions against terrorists “do so at their own peril”. “Having borne the brunt of cross-border terrorism for decades, India firmly advocates a ‘zero tolerance approach”, he said at the high-level meeting of the General Assembly.

Without directly naming Pakistan or its protector China, he said, “Those who politicise the UNSC 1267 Sanctions regime, sometimes to the extent of defending proclaimed terrorists, do so at their own peril”.

The UNSC 1267 Sanctions regime is the procedure for imposing sanctions based on the Security Council resolution with that number.

China has been blocking sanctions against Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) leader Sajid Mir, involved in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, Jaish-e Mohammed (JEM) leader Abdul Rauf Azhar, and Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD)A leader Abdul Rehman Makki.

Before relenting under international pressure, China had blocked sanctions against LeT leader Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, who is the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack in which about 175 people died.

“There is no justification for any act of terrorism, regardless of motivation. And no rhetoric, however sanctimonious can ever cover-up blood stains”, Jaishankar added. 

(SAM)