From terrorism to single-use plastic to global warming, here are key highlights from PM Modi’s UNGA speech

New York (USA) | Jagran News Desk: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Friday where he spoke about protecting the climate, fighting terrorism, maintaining global peace and his government's efforts at helping the marginalised.

This was PM Modi’s second address at the UNGA. He had last addressed the gathering four years ago, with former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj representing India at the world body in the subsequent years.

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The Prime Minister spoke for about 15 minutes and started his speech by saying that this was special opportunity for him to address India at the world stage.

Here are the key highlights from PM Modi’s speech at UNGA:

1. This opportunity to address UNGA is special because this year world is celebrating 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

2. The world's largest democracy voted for my government and me. We came back to power with a bigger majority and because of this mandate I am here today.

3. While I was coming here, I read on the walls of the United Nations "No more single use plastic". I am delighted to inform you that we are running a big campaign in India to free the country of single use plastic.

4. When a developing nation successfully carries out the biggest cleanliness drive of the world and provides more than 11 crore toilets to its people just within 5 years, that system gives a message of inspiration to the entire world.

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5. Jan Kalyan with the help Jan Bhagidari our motto.

6. We believe that terrorism is not a challenge for any one country, but for all countries and of mankind as a whole. So for the sake of humanity, all the world has to unite against terror.

7. If we look through the history and on the base of per capita emissions, India's contribution to global warming has been very less.

8. India's contribution towards United Nations Peace-keeping missions has been immense, no other country in the world has sacrificed as much as India has for these peace-keeping missions.

9. India's message to the world community today is the same as Swami Vivekananda's message to the world in Chicago many years ago - 'Harmony and peace.

10. India is a nation that has given Buddh (in a reference to Gautam Buddha) and not Yuddh (war). That is why we have anger and a commitment against terrorism. Terrorism goes against the founding principle of the United Nations, and for the sake of humanity, it is crucial that the world unites against it. A divided world is in nobody's interests.

PM Modi's address at the UN comes on the final day of his week-long visit to the US. The leader had a packed agenda of bilaterals amongst other engagements, beginning with the mega "Howdy, Modi!" event in Houston event that witnessed him sharing the stage with US President Donald Trump before a crowd of more than 50,000 Indian-Americans.

PM Modi was also honoured with the Global Goalkeeper Award by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for his contributions to the cleanliness drive and efforts to improve access to sanitation in India through Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan. He also met the CEOs of top global companies, including Boeing, Shell and Walmart, during the past week.