UN chief Guterres to start India visit with tribute to Mumbai terror attack victims

Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations, will begin his three-day official visit to India today by paying tributes to the victims of the 26/11 terror attacks at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai.

This is Guterres’ first visit to India since he commenced his second term in office in January 2022. He had earlier visited India during his first term in 2018.

Guterres will also deliver a public address at IIT Mumbai on ‘India @75: UN-India Partnership: Strengthening South-South Cooperation’.

On Thursday, he will join Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Gujarat’s Kevadiya at the launch of the Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) booklet, logo, and tagline. It may be recollected that the concept of LiFE was introduced by PM Modi during COP26 in Glasgow in November 2021. PM had then urged the global community of individuals and institutions to drive LiFE as an international mass movement towards “mindful and deliberate utilisation, instead of mindless and destructive consumption” to protect and preserve the environment.

Mission LiFE will be India’s signature initiative at the United Nations and other international platforms for showcasing climate action and early achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Its central idea reflects India’s ethos of respect for Mother Nature and aims at piloting a focussed program that will mobilise 1 billion Indians to become pro-planet people (3P), who would practice simple environment and climate friendly behaviour/actions in their daily lives to promote a shared commitment to protect our planet.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will also hold bilateral discussions with the UNSG on issues of global concern, steps to deepen India’s engagement with the UN, including through India’s upcoming Presidency of the G20 and reformed multilateralism.

In Kevadiya, Guterres is expected to pay floral tributes at the Statue of Unity. He will also be visiting India’s first solar-powered village in Modhera (Gujarat) and other development projects in the area. He will also be visiting the Sun Temple in Modhera, before departing for his onward destination.

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