External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar once again pointed to the historical opportunity when India could get a permanent membership at the UNSC during Nehru’s term and how India lost the same.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Tuesday, after the informal summit in Samarkand, that India is pressuring the world to go for permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
While talking with intellectuals in Shimla, he said,
“We want to become members of the UNSC and have a permanent seat as early as possible. However, this target will not be easily attained. But why, when the permanent members still wield enormous power?”
The same way we have Ukraine, they are involved in business between them on matters that shape the entire world, such as Gaza. And they will not want the number of permanent members to be six, seven, eight, and so on.”
Jaishankar was reminiscing in the same line, reminding us how India had the chance to secure a permanent seat in the UNSC, but it didn’t take it.
“They had the chance 50 years ago, but the then government never agreed. They did not think it was a matter of that priority. But today, I think it’s good for us. If you ask developed countries, they look at India as a very good partner,”
he said.
He also noted that there are no elections at the United Nations level if anybody wants to be appointed as a permanent member of the UNSC.
“Today we are having our elections here, yet they have frustrated the elections in the UN.If the polls are not going to be held, then how is it going to be decided? Their aim is to continue to block it, while our aim is to continue to apply pressure. Today, we are first in terms of population, fifth in terms of economy, and we will be the third,” he summed up.
