PM Modi calls on the Global South to shape a new World Order
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that at a time when the world is undergoing unprecedented transformation, it is also the moment for the Global South to chart new pathways. PM Modi said India is strongly voicing the concerns of the Global South at every global platform and during this, he recalled that during its G20 Presidency, India placed the concerns of the Global South at the center of the global agenda.
Speaking at the inaugural session of the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) at the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan, Parliament House Complex, Modi highlighted India’s effort to ensure that innovations benefit the entire Global South and the Commonwealth countries.
He noted that India is also building open-source technology platforms so that partner nations in the Global South can develop systems similar to those established in India. Highlighting that one of the key objectives of the CSPOC is to explore different ways of promoting knowledge and understanding of parliamentary democracy, Modi stressed that both Speakers and Presiding Officers have a very important role in this effort, as it connects people more closely with the democratic process of their country.
Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Om Birla, Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Harivansh, President of Inter Parliamentary Union, Dr. Tulia Ackson, Chairperson of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Dr. Christopher Kalila were present among other dignitaries at the event. The CSPOC will be chaired by the Birla and is being attended by 61 Speakers and Presiding Officers of 42 Commonwealth countries and four semi-autonomous Parliaments from different parts of the world.
Warmly welcoming the guests on this special occasion, Modi expressed honour in having them present. He highlighted that the place where everyone was seated holds immense importance in India’s democratic journey. He recalled that in the final years of colonial rule, when India’s freedom was certain, the Constituent Assembly met in this very Central Hall to draft the Constitution. The Prime Minister noted that for 75 years after independence, this building served as India’s Parliament, where numerous crucial decisions and discussions shaping the nation’s future took place. “India has now dedicated this historic place to democracy by naming it the Samvidhan Sadan,” an elated Modi said, as, during his second tenure as PM, India got its New Parliament Building adjacent to the existing structure and the functioning started in September 2024.
On the occasion, the PM noted that the Indian Parliament has already been undertaking such initiatives. The Prime Minister emphasised that through study tours, customised training programmes, and internships, citizens have been given opportunities to understand Parliament more closely. He further highlighted that India has begun using AI to translate debates and House proceedings in real time into regional languages.
Underscoring that he has had the opportunity to visit more than 20 member countries associated with the Commonwealth, Modi highlighted that he has also had the privilege of addressing several Parliaments.PM stated that due to this spirit of welfare, 25 crore people have come out of poverty in recent years. He asserted, “In India, democracy delivers”.
Referring to the Lok Sabha elections held in 2024, Modi, who became Prime Minister for the third straight time, underlined that they were the largest democratic exercise in human history. “Nearly 980 million citizens were registered to vote, a number larger than the population of some continents. There were more than 8,000 candidates and over 700 political parties contesting, and the elections also witnessed record participation by women voters,” he mentioned.
PM delightedly shared that the President of India (Droupadi Murmu, is a woman, and the Chief Minister of Delhi (Rekha Gupta), the city where the conference is being held, is also a woman. He remarked that Indian democracy is rich in diversity, where hundreds of languages are spoken, there are over 900 television channels across different languages, and thousands of newspapers and periodicals are published.
