Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed distinguished guests to the 9th G20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit in New Delhi, a significant gathering of parliamentary leaders representing diverse nations. This summit, hosted by the Parliament of India under the broader framework of India’s G20 Presidency, carries the theme ‘Parliaments for One Earth, One Family, One Future,’ reflecting the shared commitment to address global challenges and promote unity.
In his opening remarks, Prime Minister Modi likened the summit to a ‘Maha Kumbh,’ a grand confluence of diverse parliamentary practices from across the globe. He underscored the significance of the collective experience present in the room, spanning a multitude of parliamentary frameworks and traditions.
The Prime Minister celebrated the ongoing festive spirit in India, a country that has kept the festive fervor alive throughout the year with a series of G20-related events. Events like the successful G20 summit and the P20 summit have added to the festive atmosphere, reinforcing India’s stature on the global stage. Prime Minister Modi emphasized the strength of any nation lies in its people and their willpower, and the summit serves as a platform to celebrate this collective strength.
“He shared historical examples of debates and deliberations that trace back thousands of years to India’s ancient scriptures and Vedas, where collective decisions were made for the betterment of society”.
Drawing from Rigveda, India’s oldest scripture, the Prime Minister recited a Sanskrit shloka that underlines the importance of unity and shared goals. He delved into ancient inscriptions and traditions, such as the Anubhav Mantappa, which allowed people from all walks of life to freely express their thoughts, a tradition that predates the Magna Carta.
Prime Minister Modi highlighted the evolution and strengthening of India’s parliamentary traditions over time, underlining that India has seen 17 General elections and more than 300 state assembly elections since gaining independence. The Prime Minister also emphasized the modernization of the election process with the introduction of EVMs, which have brought transparency and efficiency to elections.
“In a significant move towards gender equality in politics, Prime Minister Modi shared India’s recent decision to reserve 33 percent of parliamentary seats for women. He also noted that out of more than 3 million elected representatives in local self-government institutions, nearly 50 percent are women. This commitment to promoting women’s participation enriches India’s parliamentary tradition”.
The Prime Minister celebrated India’s diversity and vibrancy, highlighting the multitude of languages, dialects, food, and ways of living that coexist in the country. He emphasized the abundance of information available through various media platforms, underlining the level of freedom of speech in India.
Prime Minister Modi stressed the importance of global unity in tackling the major challenges facing humanity. He underlined the need to move forward with human-centric thinking and emphasized the importance of wider participation in global decision-making. He expressed satisfaction over the inclusion of the African Union in the G-20 and the participation of Pan Africa in the P20 forum.
“Drawing attention to cross-border terrorism and its devastating effects, the Prime Minister highlighted India’s challenges in dealing with terrorist incidents, emphasizing the need for uncompromising action against terrorism. He noted the absence of consensus on the definition of terrorism on the global stage and urged parliaments worldwide to work together in the fight against terrorism”.
Prime Minister Modi concluded by emphasizing the role of public participation in dealing with global challenges. He expressed confidence that parliaments and forums like P20 can strengthen the sentiment of consensus, ultimately working to improve the world through debate and deliberations. Speaker of Lok Sabha, Shri Om Birla, and President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Mr. Duarte Pacheco, were also present at the event.
The 9th G20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit, with its focus on unity, democracy, and global challenges, marks an important step in bringing parliamentary leaders from around the world together to work towards a common future.
