How PM Modi's 'positive', development-driven UNGA address differed from Pak PM's 'hate speech'

On Friday, the world witnessed two global leaders address the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). While Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech focused on growth and development, Pakistan PM Imran Khan harped on the Kashmir issue and delivered a speech which had phrases such as "'pogrom', 'bloodbath', 'racial superiority', 'pick up the gun' and 'fight to the end.'"

Undeniably, there were stark differences between the speeches delivered by the prime minister and his Pakistani counterpart. 

"PM @narendramodi engagements at #UNGA: Climate change, universal health, sanitation, interaction with Fortune 500 companies, Bloomberg's Economic Forum, Mahatma Gandhi, bilateral meetings, CARICOM & Pacific Islands plurilaterals, a dignified and statesman-like address at the #UNGA," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeting out, adding in other post the fact that Khan's address encouraged "terrorism, war mongering, falsehood, deceit and misuse of the highest global platform".

PM Modi's UNGA address

The world listened as PM Modi narrated India's growth story. It was a proud moment for India. During his address to the United Nations General Assembly, Modi touched upon various issues including development, security, counter-terrorism, and climate change, stating that India's message to the world was that of peace and harmony.

Khan's UNGA speech

Pakistan at UNGA seemed to have taken a cue from India as Pak PM brushed on the issue of climate change and urged countries with maximum greenhouse emission to take a call on the situation. Khan's speech quickly took a turn when he began speaking on Islamophobia and ended up warning of nuclear war at the global forum.

A last-ditch effort was made to internalise the Kashmir issue as Khan talked about minority and human rights while turning a blind eye to the state of minorities in his country and ignoring the plight of Uighurs in China.

Pak PM's speech in numbers 

While PM Modi didn't even mention Pakistan in his UNGA address, Khan's speech came studded with terms like India (mentioned 16 times in his speech), Modi (12), RSS (10), Hindu (5), Balakot.

Kashmir figured over 20 times in Khan's UNGA address while Islam was mention over 70 times. 

Going overboard!

The Pak PM spoke at the UN General Assembly for nearly an hour with nearly 25 minutes dedicated to raking up the Kashmir issue; PM Modi's address lasted slightly over 15 minutes. 

Khan goofed up during his maiden UNGA speech calling PM Modi as India's "president".

India at the UN today exercised its 'right to reply' and slammed Khan for his "hate speech"

India's delegate at UN General Assembly and first secretary, Ministry of External Affairs Vidisha Maitra stated that the General Assembly has rarely witnessed the "invocation of phrases such as 'pogrom', 'bloodbath', 'racial superiority', 'pick up the gun' and 'fight to the end.'"

She added that such an act "reflects a medieval mindset and not a 21st-century vision". 

"Unfortunately, what we heard today from Prime Minister Imran Khan of Pakistan was a callous portrayal of the world in binary terms. Us vs them; rich versus poor; North versus South; developed versus developing; Muslims versus others. A script that fosters divisiveness at the United Nations. Attempts to sharpen differences and stir up hatred, are simply put - 'hate speech'," Maitra told the Assembly.