Addressing the 90th Interpol General Assembly in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said there is a need to develop international strategies to defeat terrorism worldwide.
“Interpol is approaching a historic milestone. In 2023, it will celebrate its 100 years. This is a call for universal cooperation to make the world a better place. India is one of the top contributors to the UN Peacekeeping Operations. From climate targets to COVID vaccines, India has shown the willingness to take the lead in any crisis,” PM Modi added.
“When nations and societies are becoming inward-looking, India calls for greater world cooperation… When threats are global, the response can’t be local. It’s high time, the world should come together to defeat these threats,” Modi said.
Modi said Interpol can help control proceeds of crimes generated through organised crimes and corruption from being misused by speeding up the process to issue red notices against fugitives.
“In upholding diversity and democracy, India is a case study for the world. Over the last 99 years, Interpol has connected police organizations globally in 195 countries. This is despite differences in the legal framework,” the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister also paid rich tributes to the role of police forces worldwide.
“Police forces across the world are furthering social welfare. They are the frontline responders during any crisis. I pay my respect to the police personnel who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service of the people,” he said.
Modi released the commemorative postal stamp and commemorative coins of Rs 100 denomination on occasion of the 90th Interpol General Assembly.
The general assembly is Interpol’s supreme governing body and meets once a year to take key decisions related to its functioning. The meeting is taking place in India after a gap of 25 years since it was last held in 1997.
India’s proposal to host the Interpol general assembly in 2022 at New Delhi coinciding with celebrations for the 75th year of India’s independence was accepted by the assembly with overwhelming majority. The Interpol meeting is being held from October 18 to 21 at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi.