Fake news wreaking havoc on social cohesion, collective security: India at NAM Ministerial meeting

The minister said that coronavirus pandemic requires effective coordinated fight by all nations.

Addressing the meeting, Muraleedharan said: "COVID-19 has reminded us of our interconnectedness, and dependence on each other. We cannot fight this adversary alone."

"It is the people of our countries that stand to be hardest hit by this pandemic and its consequences. Just as this disease does not respect borders, our fight against it must be coordinated to be effective," he said.

"We must work to reduce the socio-economic impact of this pandemic on the most vulnerable sections of our society. NAM’s unique tradition of promoting South-South cooperation can provide a way out as societies look to rebuild and regenerate in the wake of this crisis," he said.

Muraleedharan warned that terrorism and their enablers continue to spread their tentacles unabated among others.

"Misinformation and fake news are wreaking havoc on social cohesion and collective security. Climate change has become an existential threat, especially to the most vulnerable SIDS countries. Humanitarian emergencies are straining capacities. Cyber security threats and the uneven impact of frontier technologies are causing turbulence."

He said NAM has the potential to take the lead in addressing the primary issues of our times that demand global cooperation.

"When we stand together and speak in one voice, for instance in our Movement’s steadfast commitment to the cause of Palestine, we can and do have a decisive influence on global outcomes - we can be a force for good."

"On the other hand, if we take up issues that divide rather than unite us, reducing our Movement to a platform for venting bilateral grievances or for embarrassing fellow Members, we will soon become a weak and irrelevant entity, with no say at all in global decision making," he added.