United Nations: Prime Minister Narendra Modi struck a deeply personal note in his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday, rewinding to his roots as a "poor boy" who sold tea in a small town and rose to the country's highest political office.
"Democracy can deliver. Democracy has delivered," he said within minutes of kicking off the weekend leg of UNGA speeches.
Modi came to New York fresh off the Quad summit on Friday when he also held a bilateral meeting with US President Joe Biden at the White House.
The first in-person leader-level Quad meeting welcomed India's announcement to resume exports of Covid vaccines, including to COVAX, beginning October 2021.
The triage between Japan, Australia and India on this effort headlines immediate deliverables while offering a lens into what the Quad seeks to stand for.
In a joint statement, Quad leaders Modi, Scott Morrison of Australia and Yoshihide Suga of Japan and US President Biden slammed terrorist proxies and cross-border attacks, without naming Pakistan or China.
This messaging came soon after US withdrawal from Afghanistan and deepening mistrust between the US and Pakistan, which remains important to US intelligence because of its proximity to Taliban leaders now in charge of the war-torn nation.
A look at these pictures from PM Narendra Modi's address:
Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters on September 25, 2021 in New York. | AFP
Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives to speak at the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters on September 25, 2021 in New York. | AFP
Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, in New York on Saturday | ANI
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, NSA Ajit Doval, and Indias Ambassador to the UN TS Sandhu at the UN Headquarters, ahead of PM Narendra Modis address at UNGA, in New York. | ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, in New York | ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets UN GA President Abdulla Shahid, in New York | ANI
Members of the Indian diaspora gathered outside the hotel in New York on Saturday (local time) where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is staying.
Keeping with the spirit of the visit, they chanted 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' and 'Vande Matram' slogans.
