PM Modi calls for greater cooperation among SCO members to ensure peace & prosperity
Bishkek: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday called for greater cooperation among the SCO countries in combatting terrorism, promoting economy, alternate energy and healthcare as he outlined India's commitment to peace and economic prosperity in the region.
Addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit here, Modi gave a template, 'HEALTH', for strengthening cooperation.
"Our vision is to strengthen the healthy cooperation among us. Using the letters of HEALTH, we can make a good template for cooperation.
"H for healthcare cooperation, E for economic cooperation, A for alternate energy, L for literature and culture, T for terrorism-free society and H for humanitarian cooperation," Modi said.
SCO region and history, civilization and culture of India are interconnected for thousands of years, he said.
"Our shared area is in great need of better connectivity in the modern era," he said.
Initiatives like International North South Transport Corridor, Chabahar Port, Ashgabat Agreement, clarify the focus of India on connectivity, Modi said.
"Respect for sovereignty, regional integrity, good governance, transparency, practicality and reliability should be the basis of connectivity initiatives. The importance of people-to-people contact with physical connectivity is not less," he said in an apparent reference to China's massive infrastructure development under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which traverses through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
India opposes the USD 60 billion CPEC as it is being laid through PoK.
It has been two years since India became a member of the SCO. India has contributed positively in all the activities of the SCO, he said. India's e-tourist visa facility is available to most of the SCO member countries, he said.
"On the website of India Tourism, a new 24*7 helpline will be launched in the Russian language for the convenience of tourists from the SCO countries," he said.
"Our vision is to strengthen the healthy cooperation. Using the letters of HEALTH, we can make a good template for cooperation.
"H for healthcare cooperation, E for economic cooperation, A for alternate energy, L for literature and culture, T for terrorism-free society and H for humanitarian cooperation," Modi said.
There is a need to emphasise on the healthcare work plan. India would be happy to share its experience in telemedicine and health tourism, he said.
"Economic cooperation is the basis of our people's future. Unilateralism and protectionism has not benefitted anyone. We need an open and all-inclusive trade policy at the WTO so that the interests of every countries specially the developing ones can be take care of," Modi said.
India is committed to make a favourable environment for the economic cooperation between the SCO member countries, he said.
India is committed to tackle the danger of climate change. Today, India is the sixth largest producer of renewable and fifth largest producer of solar power, the Prime Minister said.
International Solar Alliance (ISA) is India's joint initiative whose objective is to mobilise funds for reducing the cost of energy, he said.
"We welcome the SCO member states in the initiative. India is also ready to share its experience in generating the additional sources of energy," Modi said.
"Introduction of each other's literature to our youths will strengthen our relations. Ten top composition of India's literature will be translated in the language of SCO member countries," he said.
Literature and culture provide our societies a positive activity, specially they stop the spread of radicalisation among the youths in our society.
To combat the menace of terrorism, countries will have to come out of their narrow purview to unite against it, Modi said.
"Countries sponsoring, aiding and funding terrorism must be held accountable," he said at the summit which was also attended by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan.
India has been playing the role of first responder in the event of disaster and humanitarian cooperation, he said.
"We must pay special attention to the topic of Disaster Resilient Infrastructure," Modi added.
Modi arrived in the Kyrgyz capital on Thursday for the two-day SCO summit. The SCO is a China-led 8-member economic and security bloc with India and Pakistan being admitted to the grouping in 2017.
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Manmohan Singh, LK Advani cast votes from home
New Delhi (PTI): Former vice president Mohammad Hamid Ansari, former prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh, former deputy prime minister LK Advani and former Union minister Dr Murli Manohar Joshi have cast their votes using the home voting facility, the Delhi poll body said.
The office of the chief electoral officer (CEO) of Delhi on Thursday kicked off the home voting facility for elderly voters and persons with disabilities (PwDs) and it will go on till May 24.
According to the data shared by the office, 1409 voters cast their ballots from the comfort of their homes across all seven parliamentary constituencies in Delhi on Friday, which was the second day of the facility being started.
The West Delhi constituency reported the highest number of home votes, with 348 voters participating. Among them, 299 were elderly individuals.
With the completion of the second day, a total of 2,956 voters have exercised their right to vote from home, the CEO office said.
"Former prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh and former Union minister Dr Murli Manohar Joshi successfully cast their votes on May 17 from their home availing home voting facility in the New Delhi parliamentary constituency," the office said.
Former vice president Mohammad Hamid Ansari cast his vote on Thursday, it added.
Former deputy prime minister LK Advani cast his vote on Saturday, sources said.
On the first day, 1,482 voters exercised their franchise from home.
A total of 5,406 voters across Delhi -- elderly individuals and PwDs -- have filled out Form 12D to avail of the home voting facility in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
This initiative ensures these voters can participate in the electoral process with ease and dignity, eliminating the need to visit polling stations. Delhi will go to polls on May 25.
