Mann Ki Baat: India will do everything for world peace but not at cost of self-respect, says PM Modi

Read | Strongly defends calling off talks: At UN, Sushma Swaraj tears into Pakistan ‘malevolence, verbal duplicity’

“We believe in peace and we will do everything to encourage it but not at the cost of our self-respect and the country’s sovereignty. India is committed to world peace. Despite not having anything to do with the two World Wars in the 20th century, more than one lakh Indian soldiers spread the message of peace and harmony,” PM Modi said.

The PM’s statements came a day after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj lambasted Pakistan at the United Nations General Assembly for sponsoring cross-border terrorism and justified India’s decision behind cancelling the talks with her Pakistani counterpart.

Read | ‘Baseless allegations’: How Pakistani media reacted to Sushma Swaraj’s speech at UNGA

Pointing out that India is one of the largest contributors to various United Nations Peace Keeping Forces in terms of sending its personnel, Modi said, “For decades, our soldiers wearing blue helmets have played a leading role in maintaining peace in the world, demonstrating their might in the skies. The Indian Air Force has caught the attention of all Indians giving us a sense of security.”

Reiterating India’s commitment and dedication towards peace, the PM said, “We have never eyed someone else’s territory maliciously. This in itself was our commitment and dedication towards peace across the globe.”

Lauding the Indian Army over the surgical strikes conducted across the border last year, the PM said India will not spare those “waging a proxy war in the garb of terrorism”. “Every Indian is proud of our armed forces and brave soldiers. Yesterday, 1.25 billion Indians celebrated #ParakramParv (surgical strike anniversary). We remembered the 2016 surgical strike when our soldiers gave a befitting reply to those waging a proxy war in the garb of terrorism,” he said.

Besides terrorism, the PM stressed on the importance of human rights and inculcating them into practice, saying it is the very basis of his government’s ‘sab ka saath, sab ka vikas’ principle. While referring to the role of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), which completes 25 years next month, Modi said, “As a society, we need to understand the importance of human rights and inculcate them into practice — this is the very basis of ‘sab ka saath, sab ka vikas’ (collective efforts, inclusive growth).”

“The NHRC has not only protected human rights but has also promoted respect for human dignity over the years,” he added.

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