Modi urges UN
to rethink
priorities for the
21st century

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NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called on the United Nations to reform in line with 21st-century realities to ensure the representation of voices that matter, according to an interview published on Sunday.

A “mid-20th century approach cannot serve the world in the 21st century”, Modi, who will host a summit of the Group of 20 big economies from next weekend, told the Press Trust of India news agency.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Modi, leader of the world’s most populous country and aspirant to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council, is seeking to boost India’s status and promote its causes, such as relief for unsustainable debt, using the global pulpit of the G20 summit starting on September 9.

He reiterated his support in the interview for the African Union to become a full member of the G20.

The two-day summit will showcase India’s highest-profile guest list ever, from US President Joe Biden to French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

“International institutions need to recognise changing realities, relook at their priorities,” Modi said, adding it was critical to ensure the representation of voices. “India’s G20 presidency also sowed seeds of confidence in countries of so-called third world.”

Modi said India’s G20 presidency has led to the recognition that anti-inflation policies in one country do not harm others.

Inflation hits India’s many poor people especially hard. Economists in a Reuters poll have sharply raised their inflation forecasts for this quarter, expecting price rises to stay above the central bank’s six per cent limit until at least October.

Modi called for global cooperation in fighting cybercrime, saying, “Terrorists using dark net, metaverse, cryptocurrency to fulfil nefarious aims can have implications for social fabric of nations.”

A mid-20th century approach cannot serve the world in the 21st century, Prime Minister Narendra Modi  said, while strongly calling for reform of the United Nations in line with the changing realities of the world and to ensure representation of voices that matter.

In an exclusive interview to PTI late last week, Modi said the G20 is one of the institutions that is being looked at with “hope” by many countries as the world is looking for actions and outcomes, “no matter where they come from.” In its capacity as the current president of G20, India will host the annual summit of the influential grouping in New Delhi on September 9 and 10.

“Today’s world is a multipolar world where institutions are extremely important for a rules-based order that is fair and sensitive to all concerns. However, institutions can retain relevance only when they change with the times,” the prime minister said.