India sharply criticises P5 countries which use their veto power to disregard the rights of other nations

United Nations: ‘The US, Russia, the UK, France, and China (P5), who are using the veto power relentlessly to achieve their political interests, are denying the right to other countries. It is called having double standards, and the matter goes against the basic principles of the United Nations,’ India criticised. India has been continuously demanding an expansion of the Security Council and giving it a permanent membership. It seems that the P5 countries have proposed that India should be given permanent membership but not the right to veto. India gave this stinging reaction in response to it. ‘The right to veto cannot be kept limited to only five countries. Either remove the veto powers for everyone altogether or be prepared to give it to the new permanent members of the Security Council as well,’ India warned.

On Wednesday, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) discussed the issue of ‘Use of the Veto’. After the Ukraine conflict broke out, the West introduced a Security Council resolution against Russia. However, Russia overruled the resolution by using its veto powers. After this, Western countries discussed the right to use veto power in the UN General Assembly. In the discussion that was held on it on Wednesday, India’s diplomatic officer Pratik Mathur presented India’s position in the most candid terms. Mathur pointed out that veto cannot be thought of piecemeal, so a more comprehensive approach is needed. Mathur asked how the affairs of the United Nations, which has 193 member countries, could be run by only five permanent members of the Security Council.

The United Nations Security Council has five permanent members. While the remaining ten temporary members, other countries get a chance in sequence. Two years’ tenure has been fixed for them. Also, these countries do not have the right to veto, i.e., reject any resolution. Nevertheless, voices are being raised all over the world against these special rights given to the P5 countries. India has been strongly criticising the United Nations, saying it was structured this way in the post-World War II situation, and this structure has remained the same even after 75 years.

Permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council is India’s right, and the United Nations cannot waive this right. Therefore, a proposal was made to give permanent membership to India without giving it the right to veto power. It was suggested by the P5 countries that the new permanent member states of the Security Council would be considered to be given veto power over time.

India has strongly opposed this and demanded the withdrawal of the right to veto given to the P5 countries. Prateek Mathur asserted India’s demand that no one should be given the right to veto and decisions of the Security Council should be taken through a vote. Otherwise, the new permanent members should also be given the right to veto. Mathur also accused the UN administration of being run according to an outdated structure, and the countries which use the right to veto for their interests are responsible for this.

African and Latin American countries support this position of India. Developing countries that are part of the Global South have upheld India’s side, and thus it is becoming difficult even for developed countries to ignore India’s demands. Therefore, India’s criticism of the West’s selfish policies of trying to use the United Nations General Assembly against the veto used by Russia seems to be receiving a response.

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