NAM is still relevant

Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) was founded to end the supremacy of the two super powers – former USSR and USA- of that time, who were dictating the rest of the world. India had played a very important role in founding the Non-Aligned movement. But with the passage of time, the NAM got weaker and weaker and there arose uni-polar world with the US as single super power. US divided the members of the NAM countries into several blocks and the NAM left to remain in life only on paper. With several offerings of help of all sorts, the US made most of the NAM countries as its tails and those who dared to defy it were taught a lesson in form of imposing sanctions and invasions. The NAM member countries failed to put up united posture and the sole super power began to reign supreme. The need of the hour is to change this scenario of the world immediately. As India has been one of the founding members of NAM countries, it must lead the movement from the front and take up the burning political and economic issues to be solved together. It is good that India shows keen interest in reviving the NAM movement vigorously and because of that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is himself going the attend the four-day NAM Summit in Tehran. PM has underlined the relevance of NAM movement and rightly said that NAM should help in tackling key political and economic challenges, including worsening situation in Syria and a persistent global economic slowdown. It is correct to say that the outdated structures of global governance have not been able to keep pace with contemporary political and economic challenges. But at the same time, the situation demands urgently on NAM member countries to think over the issue how to keep the structure updated to solve the immediate problems confronting the world. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other important representatives of the NAM member countries must act together how to face many challenges, such as the worsening situation in Syria, a persistent global economic slowdown, and other new and emerging threats. To face the present challenges successfully, credible trans-national action needs to be taken. India must work to strengthen the NAM so that it could provide strong political impetus to the ongoing efforts to reform and democratize global governance structures, which are critical to tackle these challenges more effectively. Prime Minister's visit to Tehran to attend the NAM Summit has particularly become more important in view of the bilateral talks with Khamenei and Ahmadinejad taking place at a time when the US is pushing India to reduce engagement with Iran and implement sanctions imposed by some countries over its controversial nuclear programme.