Addressing Indian citizens at community reception in France, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that India has the right to demand permanent seat in UN Security Council.
Speaking at Carrousel du Louvre, Modi said, “Gone are the days when India had to beg; now we command our rights. I urge the international community to honour those who are envoys of peace. This is the opportunity to give the land of Mahatma Gandhi and Lord Buddha its due.”
Modi is on a two-day trip to Paris.
“I had gone to pay homage to the martyrs. I would have regretted it if I hadn’t gone there. I had goose bumps when I went there, I was overwhelmed. The war had went on for four years; Indians were fighting, but not for themselves,” he said.
Speaking of India’s sacrifice, he said, “India is a country which sacrifices not only for itself but for others as well. Today, if there is one army that contributes the most in peacekeeping initiatives it is the Indian army. Indians are praised for their contribution towards peacekeeping. I doubt if there is any other country in the world that can spread the message of peace, the way we can,” he added.
The PM spoke in Hindi to an estimated audience of over 2,000 people, mostly of Indian-origin.
His speech was interspersed with chants of ‘Modi, Modi chants from the crowds.
Recalling that he had earlier visited France as a tourist, he said, “Now I have come to take tourists from here to India.”
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