Terrorism is a global problem that needs to be tackled in a united manner, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the United Nations on Friday as he burnished India’s credentials as a messenger of peace, rather than of war or dissension.

Calling attention to India’s contributions to international peace keeping missions under the UN flag, Modi said: “We are citizens of the nation that has given the world the Buddha and the message of peace, not war. And so when we warn the international community about terrorism, it is with seriousness and outrage.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday exhorted the international community to stand united against terrorism, which he described as one of the biggest challenges not for any single country, but for the entire world. Addressing the 74th session of the UN General Assembly, Modi lamented the lack of unanimity among the member states on the issue of terrorism, saying it dents those very principles, that are the basis for the creation of the United Nations. 

“Harmony and peace, and not dissension,” declared Modi, quoting from the speech of Swami Vivekananda, made in Chicago 125 years ago. “The message from the world’s largest democracy today is the same.”

In his much-awaited speech to the UN General Assembly that lasted about 15 minutes, Modi stressed on India’s many global contributions that held lessons for other nations, rather than allowing himself to be limited by regional matters.

The Prime Minister called for strengthening multilateralism to address the challenges of the 21st century, including those brought by technological advancements.

Modi, who spoke first, recalled the massive mandate given by Indian voters to his government in the April-May general elections, noting that this was accomplished in the world’s largest democratic exercise.

Listing out the achievements of his government in his first term in office, Modi said as a developing country, India had managed to ensure it was an open defecation-free society, made sure that the world’s largest health insurance scheme had reached all the needy people, and millions of bank accounts opened to ensure financial inclusion.

India’s achievements—that of a developing country—could inspire other countries to draw lessons from, Modi said.

“In the past five years (since the Modi government came to power for the first time in 2014) India has only promoted the values of global brotherhood and welfare.”

The issues India has raised are global and the forums at which they have been highlighted are also global, he added.

Raising the issue of climate change, which affects people across the globe, the Prime Minister said one of its immediate effects was the increasing number of natural disasters.

“To combat natural disasters, India has initiated the formation of the ‘Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure’ (CDRI). This coalition will help build infrastructure which can withstand natural disasters,” he said

Calling attention to India’s contributions to international peace keeping missions under the UN flag, Modi said: “We are citizens of the nation that has given the world the Buddha and the message of peace, not war. And so when we warn the international community about terrorism, it is with seriousness and outrage.