A divided world cannot provide solutions to the challenges faced by humanity, PM Modi says
Maintaining that a divided world cannot provide solutions to the major challenges faced by humanity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said this is a time to move together.

Addressing the audience after inaugurating the 9th G20 Parliamentary Speakers' Summit (P20) in New Delhi on Friday (October 13, 2023), he highlighted the need to move forward with human-centric thinking. 

“A divided world cannot provide solutions to the major challenges facing humanity. This is the time of peace and brotherhood, a time to move together. This is a time for growth and well-being of all," Prime Minister Modi said. "We have to overcome the global trust crisis and move forward with human-centric thinking. We have to look at the world in the spirit of One Earth, One Family, One Future,” he added.

The summit is being hosted by the Parliament of India under the broader framework of India’s G20 Presidency with the theme of ‘Parliaments for One Earth, One Family, One Future’.

Prime Minister Modi's remarks assume significance as they come in the backdrop of the ongoing war between Israel and Palestine-based militants. Close to 3,000 people have been killed from both sides after Hamas militants launched an unprecedented attack on Israeli settlements and targets early on Saturday (October 7, 2023).

'WORLD IS REALIZING THE HUGE CHALLENGE OF TERRORISM '

Prime Minister Modi also used the opportunity to highlight the cross-border terrorism faced by India for decades, killing thousands of innocent people.

Referring to the tour of the country’s new Parliament House by the P20 delegates, he recalled the terrorist attack on the Parliament of India about 20 years ago. The House was in session and the terrorists were prepared to take the MPs hostage and eliminate them, he said. “India has reached here today after dealing with many such terrorist incidents”, he emphasized.

While he did not refer to the attack on Israelis by Hamas militants or other recent terrorist attacks, he maintained that the world was also realizing the huge challenge of terrorism.

“No matter where terrorism occurs, for whatever reason, in whatever form, it is against humanity” as he stressed the need to be uncompromising when dealing with such a situation.

At the same time, Prime Minister Modi lamented the fact that no global consensus had been achieved when it came to the definition of terrorism. The International Convention on Combating Terrorism was waiting for a consensus in the United Nations even today, he pointed out. The enemies of humanity were taking advantage of this attitude of the world, he stated as he urged the Parliaments and representatives around the world to come up with ways of working together in this fight against terrorism.

Prime Minister Modi also made the following points during his address:

1. The P20 Summit is taking place in a land which is not only known as the mother of democracy but is also the largest democracy in the world.

2. The journey of India from 5000-year-old scriptures till today is a heritage of Parliamentary traditions not just for India but the entire world. 

3. The 2019 General Election in India was the biggest electoral exercise of human history as 600 million voters participated in that. One billion people will participate in the general election next year.

4. India today is promoting women's participation in every sector. The recent decision taken by Parliament on reserving 33 percent seats in the Parliament and the state assemblies for women will further enrich India's parliamentary tradition.

5. In this world of the 21st century, this vibrancy of India, unity in diversity, is our greatest strength. 

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Inter-Parliamentary Union President Duarte Pacheco were among those present on the occasion. 

Speakers of Parliaments of G20 member states and invitee countries attended the event. The Pan-African Parliament also took part in the P20 Summit for the first time after the African Union became a member of G20 at the New Delhi G20 Leaders’ Summit on September 9-10, 2023.

The thematic sessions during this P20 Summit will focus on the following four subjects - Transformation in People’s Lives through Public Digital Platforms; Women-led development; Accelerating SDGs; and Sustainable Energy Transition.

A pre-summit Parliamentary Forum on LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) was also held on October 12, 2023 to deliberate upon initiatives towards a greener and sustainable future in harmony with nature.