Underlining the need for expansion of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Friday said it was disappointing to see China repeatedly block efforts by the UNSC to declare Masood Azhar as a global terrorist.
“Peace is the foremost prerequisite for the progress of a nation and the world at large, and is inextricably linked with development,” Mr. Naidu said at a felicitation organised at Swarna Bharat Trust (SBT) here on Friday. Mr. Naidu was felicitated for being conferred the Doctor Honoris Causa by the University for Peace of Costa Rica.
Nationwide campaign
“Terrorism is an enemy of humanity and poses a major threat to peace and development. India has been a victim of terrorism for many years,” Mr. Naidu said. The Vice-President called upon all countries to come together to stamp out the menace of terrorism and urged the United Nations to conclude at the earliest the deliberations on Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.
The Vice-President announced that he would undertake a nationwide campaign for promoting the rule of law, democracy, sustainable development and peace and said that he felt honoured to be conferred the honorary doctorate at a time when the world was commemorating the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, who had demonstrated to the world the power of non-violence.
Fight against terrorism
Emphasising on the need for creating greater awareness about the importance of strengthening the rule of law, eliminating corruption, promoting peace and sustainable development and ending regional and social disparities, Mr. Naidu declared that he would take up all these issues, as also the need for a united fight against terrorism, during his visits to other countries.
Farm distress
In a separate interaction with farmers jointly organised by the SBT and Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University at the same venue, Mr. Naidu said concerted efforts were required to mitigate agrarian distress in the country and insisted that doubling the income of farmers by making agriculture resilient, sustainable and profitable was the need of the hour.
Diversification of crops
Farmers should be educated on the diversification of crops and should be motivated to take up allied activities to tide over the crises, the V-P added.
