India’s population of 1.32 billion, 20% of World population is not

represented (in the Security Council).   

India is an original member of the U.N. even before it became independent.  India is the largest democracy in the world.     India has been an outstanding leader and contributed maximum during the formative years of the U.N. from 1945 to 1965.   India’s record of performance in the General Assembly, the Trusteeship Council and the  Economic & Social Council is most outstanding.

         

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Ven Parameswaran

 

2020 is the 75th birthday of the U.N., founded in 1945 by the victors of World War II.  The victors, U.S.A., France, U.K., Republic of China, and the Soviet Union automatically made themselves permanent members of the Security Council with a veto power.  Just compare the maps of 1945 and 2020.  The geopolitics of 1945 is totally obsolete today.    The present U.N. does not represent the realities of the geopolitics of today.    The Security Council is the most unrepresentative and undemocratic organization.

The Charter of the U.N. begins with the sentence: “WE, THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD…..”

Therefore, it is only logical that the Security Council should represent the PEOPLE OF THE WORLD.

The world has a population of 7.8 billion.  Out of this, the Security Council does not represent 5.81 billion.  A minority of 1.99 billion (25%)  is represented:  China 1.39 billion (20%); USA 330 million; Russia 144 million; UK 65 million; France 67 million. Thus 75% of the world population is not represented.  If India is admitted two thirds of the world would be represented.  THUS, THE SECURITY COUNCIL IS THE MOST UNDEMOCRATIC ORGANIZATION, AS OF NOW.

Today, the U.K. and France have each a population of approximately 65 million, representing 1/10th of India’s population.   Both are from Western Europe.  Why should two countries represent Western Europe with a population of 300 million?   Furthermore, in 1945 the colonial powers of the  U.K. and France represented many colonies in Asia, Africa and other parts of the world.   Without amending the charter, both the U.K. and France were allowed to  continue as permanent members of the Security Council when they stopped representing former colonies representing large population.

The Peoples Republic of China was established in 1949.  The victor, Mao-Tso-Tung defeated Chiang-Ki-Sheik, head of the Republic of China, who took refuge in the island of Formosa, now known as Taiwan.

Although the People’s Republic of China represented the largest population of any country in the world, it  was excluded by the U.N.   It is a political joke that Taiwan, representing less than 10 million people was allowed to continue as member of the Security Council for almost 30 years without amending the Charter.

The Soviet Union represented several Eastern European and Central Asian countries in 1945.  After the Cold War ended in 1989, the Soviet Union was disintegrated resulting in many countries winning their own independence.  Thus, the remaining Russia with 140 million people was allowed to continue as a permanent member of the Security Council without amending the Charter.

India’s population of 1.32 billion, 20% of World population is not represented.    India is an original member of the U.N. even before it became independent.  India is the largest democracy in the world.     India has been an outstanding leader and contributed maximum during the formative years of the U.N. from 1945 to 1965.   India’s record of performance in the General Assembly, the Trusteeship Council and the Economic & Social Council is most outstanding.

INDIA’S MAJOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE U.N.

1. The Trusteeship Council was entrusted with the responsibility of decolonization of former Trust territories and colonies. India’s chief delegate, V. K. Krishna Menon’s speech on Decolonization was published in two full pages by the NEW YORK TIMES in 1946 (See the internet).   Krishna Menon represented the Interim Government of India.   He was the Chairman of the Indian Delegation till 1962.
2. KOREAN WAR: Krishna Menon’s formula was applied and Armistice was signed.  President Eisenhower praised India’s leadership in bringing the Korean war to an end.
3. SUEZ CRISIS: Krishna Menon negotiated with Egypt, U.K. and France in solving the Suez Canal crisis resulting from Egypt nationalizing Suez Canal.  Here again, President Eisenhower credited Indian leadership.
4. France did not want to give up its colonies – Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco and walked out of the U.N. Krishna Menon negotiated and brought them back resulting in decolonization.
5. Krishna Menon championed the decolonization of colonies in Africa, Asia and elsewhere and succeeded in obtaining independence for the colonies.
6. Krishna Menon spoke on behalf of the Peoples Republic of China to correct its misrepresentation by Taiwan.
7. Just like the Security Council, the Western powers wanted to create a new international Atomic Energy Agency, a private club of nuclear powers then. Krishna Menon challenged this concept and negotiated hard resulting in the new International Atomic Energy Agency of all members oi the UN.
8. Krishna Menon was responsible to admit 16 new members in 1956 as a package deal.
9. India was an active member of the Capital Development Committee that created U.N.D.P. Similarly, India was very active in creating almost all Specialized Agencies including the World Bank, IMF, WHO, UNICEF, UNESCO, ITU, ICAO, ILO, UNCTAD, FAO, WMO, and others.  Indian diplomats participated very actively in preparatory committees.
10. 11 American fliers were shot down by Communist China during the Korean War. Krishna Menon went to China to negotiate release of these prisoners.  President Eisenhower invited Krishna Menon to the oval office to thank him personally.
11. India was the first member to contribute to Peace Keeping Force. India continued to contribute substantial peace keeping force in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.  General Inderjit Rikhi served as Military Adviser to the Secretary General.

Any serious scholar of the U.N. or any active U.N. diplomat should be able to recognize the major contributions of V.K.Krishna Menon, Defence Minister of India.  American and international media has covered India’s contributions.

INDIA CANNOT BE ADMITTED AS A PERMANENT MEMBER WITHOUT AMENDING THE CHARTER IS A POLITICAL JOKE!

We know the Security Council, without amending the Charter has admitted Russian Federation by political agreement.  Similarly, after decolonization of former colonial countries,  the U.K. and France were allowed to continue as members representing the same region (Western Europe) and a population of 130 million people.      Therefore, India should not accept the flimsy argument that India cannot be admitted without amending the Charter.

U.S.A., U.K., FRANCE, AND RUSSIA HAVE OFFICIALY AND PUBLICLY SUPPORTED THE ADMISSION OF INDIA AS A PERMANENET MEMBER.   INDIA IS YET TO CAPITALIZE THIS UNITED SUPPORT

India received 184 votes in the UN General Assembly  this year  in favor of admitting India as a temporary member.  Based on this strength, India should try to get a resolution approved by two thirds of the majority of the U.N.General Assembly to admit India as a permanent member based on the support of four members of the U.N.Security Council and major contributions of India to the U.N.    India must take the initiative to achieve this.   So far, Indian diplomats unfortunately have left it to China to postpone or not decide. It is time India capitalizes on the united support of 4 permanent Security Council members.

India should not be surrendering to China even at the U.N.   India should not and cannot accept the status quo after 75 years of the U.N.   It is not up to China to decide the rights of 1.3 billion people of India.

AGGRESSIVE INDIAN DIPLOMACY REQUIRED

Apparently, the Indian diplomacy succeeded in enlisting the support of 184 out of 193 members of the General Assembly for temporary membership.  Aggressive Indian diplomacy should be employed at all capitals of the world seeking support for admission as a permanent member of the Council.    Once India has a resolution approved by two thirds of the U.N.General Assembly, then it is easier for the US, UK, France, and Russia to pressure China not to veto admission of India.   American diplomacy has succeeded in getting cooperation of China before sanctions against North Korea resolution was adopted.      India must continue to use diplomacy and pressure on the USA, UK, France, and Russia  for admission of India as a permanent member.

Before India is admitted, India should not be wasting its time in discussing the admission of the enemies of World War II, Germany and Japan.

Unlike his predecessors, Prime Minister Modi should even consider withdrawing from the U.N. if India is not admitted as a Permanent Member with a Veto power.  The honor of India and its 1.3 billion people is at stake.

(Ven Parameswaran was with the Permanent Mission of India to the U.N. from 1954 to 1964.  He was first Private Secretary to V. K. Krishna Menon and later Advisor, Economic & Social Council Affairs.  He is currently writing a biography of V. K. Krishna Menon.  His email: vpwaren@gmail.com)