Salient points of speech of address of Hon’ble BJP National President Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda ji while speaking at ‘Global Challenges of 21st Century: Interparty Dimension’ seminar organised by United Russia Party
Hon’ble BJP National President Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda today addressed “‘Global Challenges of 21st Century: Interparty Dimension” seminar organised by United Russia Party via video conferencing. The seminar was hosted by the United Russia Party as a part of the celebration of its 20th anniversary. The conference was inaugurated by the Chairman of the United Russia Party Shri D. A. Medvedev. Political leaders across the globe participated in the conference. This conference has taken place at a time when Russian President Vladimir Putin is going to visit India in a few days.
Addressing the seminar, Mr Nadda thanked Shri Boris Gryzlov, Chairman of the Supreme Council of the United Russia Party for the opportunity to speak at this forum on behalf of Bharatiya Janata Party.
Key points of the address:
● India and Russia are steadfast and long-standing friends. The friendship and partnership between India and Russia has been the most stable in the international system after World War II. Indians admire Russia. Russia is considered as a special friend of India. Deeper and more fruitful party- to – party exchanges between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the United Russia Party will help in further strengthening the bond between the two nations.
● Bharatiya Janata Party is the world’s largest political party with almost 200 million primary members, and the United Russia Party adds lustre to the friendship between the two nations. Both the political parties draw inspiration from this friendship and mutual respect that President Shri Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi share.
● On behalf of my party, I welcome the forthcoming visit of the Hon’ble President Shri Vladimir Putin to India. The modern 21st bilateral relationship between the two nations can be traced back to the year 2000 when President Vladimir Putin and our much-loved former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee inaugurated the ‘India-Russia Strategic Partnership’. This started the tradition of Annual Summits between our leaders. The forthcoming Summit between Shri Vladimir Putin and Shri Narendra Modi is in continuation of this rich tradition.
● We have almost completed the quarter of the 21st century. These have been testing times for the global community, particularly over the past two years when the world has been fighting the global pandemic.
● Our response to the three principal challenges – pandemic & the post pandemic rebuilding, climate change and threat posed by radicalism & terrorism and its sanctuaries – will shape the trajectory of the remainder of the 21st century. In all three areas what India and Russia can achieve together to meet common and global goals will determine peace and prosperity in our shared region as well as in the world system.
● To meet common and global goals will determine peace& prosperity in our shared region & in the world system. Through COVID, India and Russia have sustained cooperation, assisting each other with supply of machines and other tools. We have assisted each other with supply of medicines and other health materials. In India there is great appreciation of the help Russia extended to us. Russia rushed support, particularly in the form of oxygen supplies and other emergency material during our second wave earlier this year.
● Today Covid situation is much better in India. We have given more than 124 crore doses of vaccines to our citizens and we have covered almost our entire eligible population with at least one jab.
● As the largest and socially responsible political party, the BJP responded during the Covid pandemic and carried out relief operations on a massive scale. The BJP carried out a special relief campaign which is called ‘Sewa Hi Sangathan’ which means ‘organisation is for the serving the people’.
● Due to the enormity of the crisis all the BJP workers stepped out of their homes and served the sick and needy people without caring for their own health and wellbeing. Entire party was machinery galvanised and motivated into pandemic relief work. We also created a 24X7 helpline to serve everyone who was in distress. BJP karyakartas distributed food items, masks, sanitisers, oximeters and organised blood donation camps to help the people in need and also the civil and health machinery.
● A mass awareness campaign for vaccination was also organised by the BJP across India. The BJP-ruled states ran special schemes to help orphaned kids and secure their future. BJP has set an example to the world of how a political party can help in times of crisis. Efforts of the government, BJP and civil society at large helped India in its fight against the pandemic and significantly helped in control of the virus. With new variants and Covid situations fast evolving we are keeping our guard.
● India and Russia health cooperation in Covid 19 vaccination, manufacture of health related items and equipment has a big role to play. Covid pandemic has accentuated the need to centralise production and manufacturing of health related items, specially critical goods. World needs a diversified and resilient supplychains. In India this has redoubled our ‘Make In India’ initiative and our plans to expand the manufacturing base of our economy.
● We seek Russian investment and partnership in manufacturing, especially in crucial sectors like defence, healthcare, energy and technology that can be beneficial to both the countries. Enhanced trade with Russia and activation of the Chennai Vladivostok maritime corridor is a very important part of our 21st century economic strategy.
● India is highly committed in the battle against climate change, but it will require easier access to green energy resources and technology.India and Russia need to cooperate and collaborate in developing cleaner sources of energy. Russia is a trusted source of cleaner energy and we want to take our partnership further.
● The stability of Afghanistan and the hope that it does not once again become the sanctuary of terrorism and narcotics is shared by both India and Russia. It is a matter of mutual concern for both the countries. As historical stakeholders of the region and as friends of Afghanistan, India and Russia need to work together to ensure stability and peace in the region.
● Deeper and more frequent party-to-party exchanges between the BJP and the United Russia Party will contribute even more to this understanding and addressing global challenges.
Mahendra Kumar
(Office Secretary)