Sheela Bhatt analyses India's successful bid for a non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council in the aftermath of External Affairs Minister S M Krishna's press conference in New Delhi.
India's election to the United Nations Security Council as a non-permanent member would have been a non-event but for the overwhelming response that India got, which made it meaningful to a small degree. India got 187 votes out of the 190 votes that were polled. One member was absent while one vote was disqualified.
Nevertheless, India's aspiration for permanent membership of the UNSC still has a long, long way to go.
However, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna was visibly excited. He said "three cheers" to Hardeep Puri, head of India's permanent mission at the UN and his team. He also applauded the efforts of his ministry and the various embassies who worked towards this outcome.
"India's non-permanent membership of the UNSC will hardly have any impact or linkage to our claim for a permanent UNSC membership," said a senior officer in the ministry. "The dynamics of both memberships are different, but the world including America would take notice that India got overwhelming support." He said Tuesday's thumping support from the world would increase India's confidence. It's a long way from the 48 votes India earned while bidding for the same seat two decades ago.
