Karnataka

Role of UN in peace efforts highlighted

Discussions: Chancellor of Manipal University T. Ramdas Pai (centre) and IGP (Western Range) A.M. Prasad (left) at the inauguration of the Model United Nations summit in Manipal on Thursday.

Manipal: IGP (Western Range) A.M. Prasad inaugurated the three-day Model United Nations (MUN) summit here on Thursday.

Nearly 220 students of 100 colleges from across the country are participating in the summit, which is being held here for the second time. In his inaugural address, Mr. Prasad said that though a lot of things were being said about the UN, there was no denying the fact that it had and was still playing an important role in maintaining peace in the world within its limitations.

The role of UN had been extremely crucial, especially during hours of crises such as famine and so on. The threat of UN sanctions had acted as a deterrent, and prevented many countries from following errant policies, he said.

It had now become essential for even powerful countries to seek the cooperation of other countries on many issues. When the United States had decided to attack Iraq for the first time, the then U.S. President George Bush had built a consensus for it. This was just a small example of multi-lateral functioning, Mr. Prasad said.

Later, delivering a lecture on “Terrorism in India”, Mr. Prasad said that terrorism was growing in the country because youth were available for being recruited for such activities. They were being indoctrinated, and they were ready to do anything, he said.

The easy availability of SIM cards in the country was being exploited by the terrorists. Users of Wi-Fi should be careful as terrorists were hacking email IDs, Mr. Prasad said. Pro-Vice Chancellor of Manipal University S.S. Pabla welcomed the gathering.

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