India has strongly advocated for reassuming leadership role by the United Nations to meet global challenges. In his address to the UN General Assembly in New York, the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh stressed the need for making the UN stronger and more effective by strengthening the UN General Assembly and through reforms and expansion of the decision making Security Council to reflect contemporary reality. In his 20 minutes address, the Prime Minister dwelt at length on a range of issues including the slow down in the world economy, terrorism, social and political upheaval in West Asia and North Africa besides the Palestinian bid to get full membership in the United Nations. Devoting substantial part of his speech on the economic slow down, Dr Singh said the recovery which was visible after 2008 crisis is yet to show results. On the use of force by western powers to engage with political conflicts, Prime Minister said the idea that prescriptions have to be imposed from outside is fraught with danger. On terrorism, the Prime Minister called for unrelenting fight against it on all fronts. He asserted that there cannot be selective approaches in dealing with terrorist groups or the infrastructure of terrorism. Cautioning that new threats have emerged to peace and security, the Prime Minister said acts of piracy are being carried out with impunity from lands that are beyond the writ of any functioning state or international accountability. He said at a time when the world needs more international commerce, the sea lanes of communication across the Indian Ocean are under siege. On Afghanistan, Prime Minister said India will play its part in helping the people of Afghanistan to build a better future. Talking about Africa, Dr Manmohan Singh stressed the need to empower and open the doors of human advances in technology, education and skill development to the people in the region. Commending the United Nations for its efforts in focusing world attention on nuclear safety, Dr Singh said India’s plans for utilizing nuclear power to meet the energy needs hinge upon full satisfaction about the safety of nuclear energy. AIR correspondent reports that Dr. Singh's speech was hailed by the members present in the assembly by thumping of desks.