New Delhi, May 21: German envoy to India, Walter J Linder, has on Tuesday said India which holds a population of around 1.4 billion people, should be given a permanent seat in the United Nations security council (UNSC) as the world body’s credibility will get hurt by India’s absence.
The envoy told ANI: “India must have a permanent seat in the UN security council. India with 1.4 billion people is not yet a permanent member. This is unheard of. This cannot go on like this because it hurts the credibility of the UN system.”
Several nations have been for long backing India’s candidature for the UNSC permanent membership. India, a founding member of the UN, is among the largest contributors (nation) of troops to the UN peacekeeping mission. India has been elected seven times to the UNSC as a non-permanent member, mostly around 2011 to 2012.
Currently, the UNSC has five permanent members with veto power i.e., Russia, China, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
While stating terrorists should be brought to books, the German representative said terrorists should not have a future “whoever they are, wherever they are and whenever they act”, according to ANI news reports.
While underlining the strict need to bolster anti-terror cooperation, Lindner stated, “We will work together with India. Having a population of 1.4 billion people, India has a strong voice as it has been a victim of terrorism, like other countries.”