DHAKA: Narendra Modi has used his first speech to the UN as India's prime minister to renew his country's call for reform of the Security Council (UNSC).

UN institutions which reflected the imperatives of the 20th Century will not be effective in the 21st and should become more "participative", he argued, reports BBC.

India has long lobbied for a permanent seat on the Security Council.

Modi also said he wants peace talks with Pakistan but insisted it must create an "appropriate atmosphere".

India and Pakistan have fought three wars against each other since independence in 1947, two of them over the disputed territory of Kashmir.

The Hindu politician is making his first trip to the US as prime minister at the invitation of President Barack Obama, after long being denied a US visa over religious riots in Gujarat in 2002, in which he denies any wrongdoing.

A last-minute legal challenge arose when a New York district court issued a summons in response to a lawsuit filed by two survivors of the riots among others, but he has 21 days to respond.

Correspondents say the summons appears to be largely symbolic and is unlikely to bring any serious legal consequences.

Modi began his visit to New York with a visit to the 9/11 Memorial where he laid yellow roses to commemorate Indians killed in the attacks. He is due to travel to Washington DC for talks with Obama.

BDST: 1220 HRS, SEP 28, 2014