New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the online Summit of Non Aligned Movement (NAM) Contact Group held on Monday to discuss response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic crisis.
During the summit, he launched a veiled attack on Pakistan for their import of other “deadly viruses”.
PM Modi said without naming the neighbouring country, “Even as the world fights COVID-19, some people are busy spreading other deadly viruses. Such as terrorism, fake news, and doctored videos to divide communities and countries.”
It is an act of condemnation which Pakistan is exercising at the hour of crisis. When the whole world including Pakistan itself is suffering from coronavirus pandemic, they are least bothered about it, taking the advantage by infiltrating terrorists into India. Their leaders have peddled fake videos in order to create divisions.
Security agencies have traced thousands of social media handles based in Pakistan spreading fake news.
PM Modi’s participation underlined India’s longstanding commitment to the principles and values of NAM as one of its leading founding-member. In his intervention, Prime Minister emphasized the importance of a coordinated, inclusive and equitable response by the world to this crisis, outlining the steps India had taken domestically and internationally, while reaffirming India’s readiness to offer assistance in solidarity with the Movement, to the extent possible.
PM Modi also emphasized the importance of a continued effort by the world against other viruses, in particular terrorism and fake news.
PM Modi was joined by over 30 other Heads of State and Government and other leaders, including from member States in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Europe. The Summit was also addressed by the President of the UN General Assembly Prof Tijjani Muhammed Bande, UN Secretary General Mr. Antonio Guterres, African Union Chairperson Musa Faki Mahamat, EU High Representative, Josep Borrell, as well as Director General of the World Health Organization Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus.
