A strong case

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is lobbying hard for India’s permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). India has a strong case to make.

India is an emerging power in an under-represented continent.

At a time when 21st century is defined as Asian century, India’s claim is more justified.

Besides, India accounts for nearly 16 per cent of humanity and is expected to surpass China in a couple of decades.

It is a founder-member of the United Nations and is firmly committed to peace, security and development that constitute the core principles of UN charter.

Despite demonstrating to the world its nuclear strike capacity, India has observed a voluntary moratorium on use of nuclear weapons. We have committed ourselves to nuclear no-first use.

The Indo-US nuclear deal described India as a responsible state with advanced nuclear technology. India is a significant contributor to UN Peace Keeping.

As a founder of Non Aligned Movement (NAM) and other international bodies, India steadfastly defended the rights of developing countries. It has the experience of working at the Security Council as a non-permanent member several times.

Joining forces with countries like China, South Africa, Brazil etc., India strongly voiced the concerns of Third World nations at global negotiations on trade, environment etc., despite intense pressure from the global North.

Challenging the Western hegemony over global money, India together with Brazil, Russia, and China initiated BRICS and a bank for it. Along with China, it has been the strongest advocate of reforms at international financial institutions like World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF).

India has reflected the ambitions of emerging economies for restructuring the international economic and financial architecture in global forums like G 20.

Despite being an overwhelming power in the subcontinent, India never exploited this asymmetry. It is one among the fastest growing economies of the world significantly contributing to the global appetite for market and investment.

With the burgeoning middle class, India continues to be an important player in the global economy. It has an enviable record in some of the frontier areas of science and technology.

It has entered even deep space exploration which even many developed nations could not. The MOON Mineralogy Mapper (MMM) of NASA aboard India’s Chandrayaan has conclusively established the presence of water on the Moon.

India is among the half a dozen nations that has mastered nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. It is competing with the Silicon Valley to emerge as a global leader in information technology and information technology-enabled services (IT &ITES).

Of course, there is a criticism too. Of late, India is increasingly drawn into the geo-political games of the powerful nations. Its wavering stand during the Iranian imbroglio does not match its stature as a leader of the Third World.

Such aberrations, however, do not illegitimise India’s claim. India’s entry into the UNSC would significantly alter the global power balance to the benefit of the developing world.

Editor: Prof K Nageshwar