Expanding permanent category with veto critical to real reform of UNSC: India
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United Nations (PTI): India has asserted that any reform of the United Nations Security Council not accompanied by expansion in the permanent category with veto would perpetuate existing imbalance and inequities in the UN organ.
Addressing the Inter-Governmental Negotiations (IGN) meeting on Security Council reforms on Tuesday, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish also noted that consideration of a new category, with or without veto, would “complicate” an already existing discussion that involves wide-ranging views.
“There are two fundamental aspects that result in an imbalanced structure and lack of legitimacy and non-representativeness of the UN Security Council – these are the membership; and veto.
“There is broad agreement on the dire need to reform the UN Security Council. It is evident that a structure designed more than 80 years ago does not meet the requirements of the current geo-political realities,” Harish said.
The Indian envoy recalled that the sole reform of the Council in the 1960s, which expanded only the non-permanent category, led to an increase in the relative power of veto-wielders.
In comparative terms, while the original ratio of permanent members, with veto, to non-permanent members was 5:6, it was amended to 5:10 thereafter to the relative advantage of veto-wielders.
“Any reform that is not accompanied by an expansion in the permanent category with veto would deteriorate this ratio further and thereby, perpetuate the existing imbalance and inequities. Therefore, expanding the permanent category with veto is critical to real reform of the Security Council,” he said.
Harish also noted that consideration of a new category under the framework of UNSC reform, with or without veto, would “complicate” an already existing discussion that involves wide-ranging views. “It is important to limit the scope of reforms to the existing framework in order to streamline and fast-track the path to reforms,” he said.
India has been at the forefront of the decades-long efforts calling for reform of the Security Council, including expansion in both its permanent and non-permanent categories, saying the 15-nation Council, founded in 1945, is not fit for purpose in the 21st Century and does not reflect contemporary geo-political realities.
New Delhi has underscored that it rightly deserves a permanent seat at the horse-shoe table.
India also highlighted the issue of the “effective veto” that every Security Council member, elected and non-elected, enjoys on products / outcomes such as the Security Council presidential statements, the Press Statements and Sanctions Committees.
“There have been instances in the past where elected members have created hurdles by exercising their effective veto on Council products only to serve their narrow vested interests,” he said.
Harish also pointed out to calls for restraining the veto, as he referred to a resolution adopted in the UN General Assembly in 2022 with the aim of convening a formal meeting of the 193-member UN body to hold a debate within 10 days of a permanent UNSC member exercising its veto power.
“However, this has not been an effective deterrent,” Harish said, adding that since the adoption of the resolution, 24 vetoes were cast on 20 draft resolutions. He added that seven draft resolutions were vetoed in 2024, the highest since 1986.
“The UN membership has also witnessed the restraint of the two permanent members who have not cast a veto for over three and a half decades. Permanent members exercise veto many times on the basis of their own national considerations.
“No limits can be effectively considered for imposition unless there are enabling provisions in the UN Charter, which paradoxically need a Charter amendment and hence again subject to a veto!” he pointed out.
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BJP's 'preparation' for Punjab polls has begun: Kejriwal on ED raids against AAP MP Mittal
New Delhi (PTI): As the Enforcement Directorate conducted raids against AAP leader Ashok Kumar Mittal, the party's national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said the BJP has started its "preparations" for the upcoming poll in Punjab by using central agencies.
The ED on Wednesday conducted raids at the business and residential premises of AAP Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Kumar Mittal in Punjab and Haryana as part of a Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), officials said.
In a post on X in Hindi, Kejriwal said, "Modi ji has started preparations for the elections in Punjab. But, the people of Punjab will not tolerate this... they would give a befitting reply to the BJP."
About 10 locations in Jalandhar and Gurugram are being covered under the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). This includes the premises of the Phagwara-based Lovely Professional University (LPU) and two linked educational institutions named Tetr College of Business and Masters Union College of Business located in Gurugram, ED officials said.
Mittal was recently appointed the deputy leader of the Aam Aadmi Party in the Rajya Sabha, replacing MP Raghav Chadha. The 61-year-old AAP leader is also the Chancellor of Lovely Professional University, Phagwara.
Reacting to the development, AAP leaders accused the BJP of misusing central agencies ahead of elections.
There was no immediate response from the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also strongly condemned the raids, saying the BJP has begun its "preparations" for the upcoming Assembly elections in the state, currently ruled by the AAP.
AAP leader Anurag Dhanda said the action indicates the BJP has begun its poll preparations in Punjab, and questioned whether the party can contest elections without relying on central agencies like the ED and the CBI.
Senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia alleged that central agencies are deployed ahead of elections in states, followed by political visits by BJP leaders.
He also criticised the Centre, accusing it of functioning in an authoritarian manner.
Officials, however, said the searches are part of an ongoing FEMA investigation and are being conducted at various premises linked to Mittal's business entities.
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