Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison after four out of five Supreme Federal Court justices voted to convict him of attempting a coup. Justices Carmen Lucia and Cristiano Zanin cast their votes to convict him on Thursday, Xinhua news agency reported.

Bolsonaro was found guilty on five counts — plotting a coup d’etat, attempted violent abolition of the democratic rule of law, participation in an armed criminal organization, aggravated damage, and deterioration of listed heritage sites.

The Supreme Federal Court opened the case on September 2, with a conviction requiring a majority of the five-justice panel reviewing the case. Justices Alexandre de Moraes and Flavio Dino on Tuesday found Bolsonaro guilty of the related charges, while Justice Luiz Fux on Wednesday voted for acquittal. The 70-year-old former president is currently under house arrest. He may still appeal the verdict to the full Supreme Federal Court of 11 justices.

Bolsonaro did not attend this final phase of the trial in person. But he has in the past said it was designed to prevent him from running in the 2026 presidential election – even though he had already been barred from public office on separate charges. He has also called it a “witch hunt”. His words have previously been echoed by US President, Donald Trump, who imposed 50 per cent tariffs on Brazilian goods, framing them as retaliation for Bolsonaro’s prosecution.

Reacting to the guilty verdict, Trump said he found it “very surprising” and compared it to his own experience: “That’s very much like they tried to do with me. But they didn’t get away with it at all.”

-IANS

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As Western nations criticize India for so-called threats to free speech and democracy, they should be scrutinised for their restrictive practices. From the UK’s crackdown on social media posts and France’s arrest of Telegram founder Pavel Durov to Ireland’s controversial “hate speech” bill and Brazil’s ban on X, these countries reveal a troubling pattern of censorship.

Amid these developments, the stark contrast between Western criticisms and their internal policies raises questions about the state of free expression and democracy worldwide.

The West has always looked down upon India. They ranked India lower than abysmal countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan when it comes to free speech, democracy, human rights, happiness index, etc. It is clear that the world, particularly the West, is unhappy with India’s rapid rise to become a reckoning force. The rising popularity of PM Narendra Modi worldwide, along with India’s emergence as a leader of the Global South, and the de-dollarisation, among others, added to this western bitterness. Hence, there were repeated attacks under the garb of free speech concerns.

However, western media looks at the other side when it comes to the suppression of free speech in their lands. Here are a few examples of Western countries curbing FoE and also ‘calling out’ India for suppressing free speech, democracy in danger, and minorities undergoing ethnic cleansing – pot calling the kettle black scenario.

UK Arrests Citizens In Large Numbers for Sharing Memes

The United Kingdom is increasingly arresting individuals for social media posts, particularly in the wake of a mass stabbing that fueled anti-immigrant sentiment and sparked riots. The incident, involving Axel Rudakubana, who killed three young girls and injured others at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class, led to widespread outrage. Information quickly spread online, claiming that Rudakubana was an illegal immigrant – he was born in the UK to parents who had migrated from Rwanda. The UK government responded by arresting individuals who shared these claims or posted content deemed to incite violence or hatred.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has been particularly active, warning the public to “think before you post,” emphasizing that online content that incites violence or hatred can lead to prosecution. Several arrests have been made, including a 55-year-old woman who shared misinformation and a man who posted a satirical TikTok video. Citizens criticized this crackdown for stifling free speech and creating a climate of fear in this Western nation, where expressing dissenting opinions can lead to arrest.

The UK seems to be moving towards an authoritarian approach to governance, where free speech is increasingly restricted. The government acts as a “truth detector,” punishing those who disagree with official narratives or spread misinformation. What happened to Free Speech in this western country?

France Arrests Telegram Founder 

Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, was arrested by French intelligence at Le Bourget Airport in Paris. His detention is reportedly linked to accusations including money laundering, aiding terrorism, and other criminal activities. However, the primary focus of the EU’s concern is Telegram’s encrypted messaging, which authorities argue hinders criminal investigations. This arrest represents an assault on free speech and digital privacy. Despite allegations, Telegram has actively moderated content in the EU, including blocking access to certain channels that violate local laws.

The arrest appears to be a move to pressure Durov into cooperating with government surveillance demands despite Telegram’s adherence to content moderation. This situation highlights a broader conflict between state surveillance and individual privacy rights, with the arrest seen as a tactic to force Telegram to compromise its encryption standards, which are central to user privacy. There are also allegations that French authorities are using the arrest to exert pressure on Durov and gain access to Telegram’s encrypted communications, which has significant implications for free speech and the right to privacy. The arrest is controversial because it contrasts with the EU’s Digital Services Act, which focuses on economic penalties for platforms rather than personal criminal liability.

Ireland Proposes “Hate Speech” Bill 

The proposed Irish “hate speech” bill aims to criminalize the possession of content deemed likely to incite hatred, including memes and photos stored on personal devices. If passed, the law could result in up to five years of jail time for individuals with such material. The bill lacks a clear definition of “hate,” making it a tool for broad censorship rather than targeting specific harmful speech. This bill could lead to subjective and arbitrary enforcement, stifling free speech and creating a culture of fear.

The law’s vagueness is particularly concerning as it leaves the door open for criminalizing a wide range of expressions, including what some may consider mere jokes or unpopular opinions. The bill’s inclusion of “protected characteristics” also raises concerns that even misgendering someone could result in criminal prosecution. Authorities would have the power to search personal devices for potentially prosecutable content, a move many see as reminiscent of dystopian censorship.

The Irish bill goes further than similar laws in other countries, making it one of the most extreme examples of state-driven censorship of free speech in a modern Western democracy.

Brazil Forces X To Close 

X, formerly known as Twitter, announced on 17 August 2024 that it would close its operations in Brazil due to escalating tensions with Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. The conflict began in April when X was forced to block certain accounts in Brazil as part of an investigation into “digital militias” accused of spreading misinformation. However, X claimed it was unaware of the specific reasons behind the orders and which posts violated Brazilian law.

X owner Elon Musk criticized the legal orders as excessively harsh, labelling them “the most draconian demands of any country.”

Musk stated that Brazil ordered the platform to suspend accounts of sitting members of parliament and journalists, actions that X had to pretend were based on its own rules.

The situation escalated when Musk announced plans to reactivate the blocked accounts, prompting de Moraes to include Musk in an investigation and accuse him of obstruction of justice and incitement to crime. De Moraes also threatened to arrest an X legal representative in Brazil and imposed a daily fine if X did not comply with the court orders.

In response, X shut down its operations in Brazil, though the platform will remain accessible to users.

Australia Tries To Censor X Posts  

Australia’s government, led by the eSafety Commissioner, ordered X to remove footage of a terrorist attack in Sydney from its platform, prompting a heated response from Elon Musk. The incident involved a teenager charged with terrorism after attacking an Assyrian priest, and the video of the event was circulating on X. Australia’s Federal Court mandated the removal of this content, citing the graphic nature of the video and its potential to incite violence and community tensions.

X initially complied by blocking the content for Australian users, but the eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, demanded a global takedown, arguing that platforms should do everything practical to minimize harm to Australians. Musk strongly criticized this directive, arguing that allowing any country to censor content globally could lead to excessive control over the entire internet. He vowed to challenge the ruling in court, claiming it was an overreach of Australian authority and an attack on free speech.

While Australian authorities emphasized the need to protect citizens from harmful content, Musk focused on defending free speech and resisting what he viewed as unjustified global censorship. The incident also underscored concerns about the spread of violent content on social media and the responsibilities of platforms in managing such content.

EU Tries To Blackmail Elon Musk

The European Union is pressuring Elon Musk’s social media platform X to reduce the amplification of “harmful content,” particularly ahead of significant events like former President Donald Trump’s appearance on X Spaces.

NEW: The European Union is trying to influence the American election by pressuring Elon Musk to not amplify "harmful content" ahead of Trump's X Spaces event.

A new statement released by European Commissioner Thierry Breton called on Musk to put "effective mitigation measures"… pic.twitter.com/0xkjkEw0zG

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) August 12, 2024

European Commissioner Thierry Breton emphasized that while freedom of expression should be protected, platforms like X must implement measures to mitigate the spread of content that could incite violence or disorder. This stance is part of the broader enforcement of the Digital Services Act (DSA), a new EU law regulating online content to prevent misinformation and harmful material.

Musk responded critically, accusing the EU of trying to impose unlawful censorship and claimed the European Commission had proposed a “secret deal” to censor content on X, which the platform refused quietly. The European Commission denied these allegations, asserting that any settlement process is part of established regulatory procedures and that the DSA applies to all platforms equally. X faces potential fines of up to 6% of its global revenue for non-compliance with the DSA, and the platform’s recent behaviour has raised concerns about its commitment to these regulations. The ongoing conflict highlights the tension between global internet platforms and regional regulatory bodies trying to enforce content moderation standards.

Biden DOJ Jails Man For Anti-Hillary Meme

Douglass Mackey, an internet personality known as “Ricky Vaughn,” was sentenced to seven months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to interfere with the 2016 U.S. presidential election by disseminating misleading memes. Mackey’s memes falsely encouraged Hillary Clinton supporters to “vote” via text message, a method that was not legally valid. His intent, according to prosecutors, was to suppress voter turnout among certain groups, mainly targeting Black and Hispanic voters, as well as women.

Mackey, who had a significant following on X with over 58,000 followers, conspired with others to create and distribute these deceptive messages. The memes, which mimicked official Clinton campaign ads in appearance, were intended to mislead voters into thinking they had cast a valid vote via text, thereby preventing them from voting in person.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) charged Mackey with conspiracy against rights, a charge traditionally used in civil rights cases to protect individuals’ constitutional rights, including the right to vote. The DOJ argued that Mackey’s actions deliberately disenfranchised voters, undermining the democratic process.

Mackey’s defence argued that his actions were protected under free speech laws and that there was no evidence that anyone was prevented from voting due to his memes. However, the jury found Mackey guilty, leading to his sentencing. 

Maduro Blocks Access To X

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro imposed a 10-day ban on the social media platform X amid growing unrest following a disputed presidential election. Maduro accused X’s owner, Elon Musk, of inciting hatred and fascism, leading him to sign a resolution from Venezuela’s telecommunications regulator, Conatel, to temporarily take X out of circulation. This action followed widespread accusations of election fraud after Maduro was declared the winner with 51.2% of the votes. At the same time, opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia, who had been leading in polls, was reported to have received 44.2%.

The election results sparked nationwide protests, with the opposition claiming victory and warning of a potential mass exodus if Maduro remained in power. The foreign ministers of Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico urged Venezuela’s National Electoral Council to publish the vote tallies. This ban on X adds to Maduro’s ongoing confrontation with big tech, as he had also encouraged citizens to abandon Meta-owned WhatsApp in favour of other messaging apps like Telegram or WeChat.

These are some of the developed nations in the Western world that curb free speech in their country while criticising India for the imaginary “threat to Freedom of Expression and democracy.” For the world to function correctly and flourish, we need honest nations and leaders who do not poke their noses into other countries (especially developing ones).

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Feature Image Courtesy: ClearIAS

After the successful completion of the G-20 summit that saw the inclusion of the African Union into its fold due to efforts made by India, in New York, the Foreign Ministers of G4 countries — India, Brazil, Germany, and Japan discussed the reformation and democratization of the UN Security Council.

Foreign Minister of Brazil Mauro Vieira, Federal Foreign Minister of Germany Annalena Baerbock, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Yoko Kamikawa, and Ministry of External Affairs, Secretary (West), Sanjay Verma met in the margins of the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly and discussed on the much-needed reforms of UNGA.

In a join statement issued by the G-4, that read “The Ministers underscored that multilateralism is under significant strain due to multiple and complex crises. Moreover, they concurred that the UN Security Council’s inability to effectively and timely address contemporary global challenges reinforces the urgent need for its comprehensive reform so that it better reflects contemporary geopolitical realities,”.

Post-Cold War there have been efforts to expand the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in both permanent and non-permanent categories of membership because it is essential to make the body more representative, legitimate, effective, and efficient. With the changing dynamics in geopolitics, all four foreign ministers agreed on the need to enhance the role and participation of developing countries in the Security Council, in both the permanent and non-permanent categories of members.

In the last ten years, there have been strong voices raised to recognize the historical injustice with regard to only five countries having the veto power in the Security Council, which has undermined the importance of increasing participation of under-represented and unrepresented groups and regions, such as Africa and Latin America and the Caribbean.

“In this context, the G4 Ministers reaffirmed their strong support to the Common African Position (CAP) and emphasized that Africa needs to be represented in both the permanent and non-permanent categories of membership of a reformed and expanded Security Council, in line with the CAP as enshrined in the Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration,” the joint statement further stated.

On the subject of the absence of meaningful progress on Security Council reform in the IGN (Intergovernmental Negotiations framework), the joint statement read, “In this context, the Ministers noted the Co-Chair’s proposal for a structured dialogue on individual models proposed by States and Groups and encourage renewed efforts by the PGA and the Co-Chairs to commence text-based negotiations without any further delay in the IGN”.

“They stressed, in doing so, the importance of adhering to the decision-making requirements and working methods laid out in the Charter of the United Nations and the rules and procedures of the General Assembly” it added.

“They reiterated their commitment to address the issue in the upcoming 78th Session of the UNGA and agreed to intensify dialogue with all Member States, with an aim to achieve concrete outcomes within a fixed time frame,” the statement further said.

It is now widely recognized that the G-4 is a power block and if Brazil is excluded, behind China which is the world’s second-largest economy, Japan, Germany, and India take the spot as leaders in GDP. This reality is now being put in motion to enhance the role and participation of G4 members as major contributing countries to the maintenance of international peace and security in the Security Council.

“The Ministers stressed that the future of international governance structures rests on their capacity to adapt and remain fit for purpose. The longer it takes to reform the UN Security Council, the more its effectiveness will be called into question,” the joint statement added.

But the most important meeting of the G4 Ministers resulted in their support for each other’s candidatures as new permanent members in a reformed and democratized Security Council, which will lead to an open, transparent, and inclusive process, consistent with the UN Charter.

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Featured Image: Sex workers protest at Rua Guaicurus, in Belo Horizonte, in Brazil's Minas Gerais state 
on April 5, 2021, asking to be considered a priority group to receive the vaccine against COVID-19.
Credits: Yahoo

As the number of COVID-19 cases spirals out of control in Brazil, sex workers in the city of Belo Horizonte in southeast Brazil have gone on strike for a week, reports Yahoo News.

The city’s sex workers are demanding to be included in the group of “front-line workers” that should receive priority coronavirus vaccines.

The Wuhan coronavirus has hit the global economy in a very bad way, with Brazil being no exception, leading to thousands of sex workers out of a job due to the forced closure of hotels during this pandemic.

Prostitutes would often rent rooms in many hotels and the hotels made a tidy profit as well, which is why Cida Vieira, president of the Association of Prostitutes of Minas Gerais state, told media persons, “We are in the front line, moving the economy and we are at risk. We need to get vaccinated.”

Vieira and other women held a protest Monday (5 April) waving placards declaring: “Sex workers are professionals” and “Sex work and health.”

“We are a priority group, we are health educators, peer educators. We form part of that group, since we give information about STIs for men, distribute condoms…” said Vieira.

“We are part of the priority group because we deal with various types of people and our lives are at risk,” said Lucimara Costa, one of the protesting prostitutes.

As per government guidelines, health workers, teachers, the elderly, indigenous people and people with underlying health conditions have been prioritized for the first vaccination round. The Brazilian government hopes to vaccinate these priority groups, estimated to be around 77 million people, in the first half of 2021.

However, this is seen as a tall order because due to a shortage of doses the target to inoculate 77 million people may be achieved only in September and that could lead to further deaths.

So far the COVID-19 pandemic has claimed more than 332,000 lives in Brazil, second only to the United States.

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Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro thanked Prime Minister Modi as the first shipment of the COVID vaccine arrived at Brazil from India. Taking to Twitter, he posted a picture of Lord Hanuman delivering the ‘Sanjeevani Bhooti’, which the COVID vaccine is depicted as in the image, from India to Brazil. ‘Sanjeevani Bhooti’ is the medicine Lord Hanuman delivered for Lakshmana, the legendary warrior and brother of Lord Ram when he was injured in battle in the Indian epic Ramayana.

“Namaskar, Prime Minister @narendramodi Brazil feels honoured to have a great partner to overcome a global obstacle by joining efforts. Thank you for assisting us with the vaccines exports from India to Brazil,” said Bolsonaro on Twitter. Bolsonaro was the Chief Guest at the 70th Republic Day celebrations of India in 2020. Both countries are also part of the BRICS grouping.

Over two million doses of Covishield vaccine were sent on two flights to Brazil and Morocco on Friday, which reached the South American nation later that day. Similarly, 1,50,000 doses of Covisheild vaccine to Bhutan and 1,00,000 doses to the Maldives were sent earlier this week, as a goodwill gesture. The Indian government also sent two million doses of Covisheild vaccine to Bangladesh and one million doses to Nepal under grants assistance, while a consignment containing 1.5 million doses was sent to Myanmar, 50,000 doses to Seychelles on Friday.

It is important to note that while Oxford-AstraZeneca’s Covishield is being manufactured by the Serum Institute, Covaxin is being produced by Bharat Biotech. This is the same Serum Institute that recently had a fire accident.

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President Jair Bolsanaro on Friday asked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to expedite a shipment of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine, according to a letter released by the Brazilian President’s press office.

President Bolsonaro’s letter comes amid growing pressure in his country to fast-track Brazil’s vaccine rollout, as Brazil reels under the coronavirus outbreak. Bolsanaro’s critics say the immunization campaign in Brazil is running behind its regional peers, and they question why the government has not moved more quickly.

“To enable the immediate implementation of our National Immunization Program, I would appreciate … the supply to Brazil, with the possible urgency and without jeopardizing the Indian vaccination program, of 2 million doses,” Bolsonaro wrote in the letter, shared by his press office.

His message to PM Modi comes amid broader delays to the vaccine’s arrival in Brazil. On Friday the federally funded Fiocruz biomedical center said that the active ingredients necessary to fill and finish millions of doses of AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine in Brazil, previously slated to arrive in the country on Saturday, may not land until the end of the month. The delay in the shipment of the active ingredient is attributed to the wait for an export license from China, where it is produced.

Fiocruz was depending on Saturday’s shipment to supply the government with doses this month. The biological sciences research institution added that it was in talks to import more finished doses of the vaccine, likely from India on top of the 2 million it has already ordered. Earlier, Fiocruz requested an emergency use authorization for AstraZeneca vaccines coming from India, which are expected to arrive in Brazil mid-January.

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In a bizarre, and rather hilarious address made by Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro, he claimed that the new COVID vaccine might turn humans into crocodiles.

“In the Pfizer contract it’s very clear: ‘we’re not responsible for any side effects.’ If you turn into a crocodile, it’s your problem,” Bolsonaro said on Thursday. That vaccine has been undergoing tests in Brazil for weeks and is already being used in the United States and Britain. “If you become superhuman, if a woman starts to grow a beard or if a man starts to speak with an effeminate voice, they will not have anything to do with it,” he said, referring to the drug manufacturers.

Notably, the Brazilian president had tested positive for the coronavirus in July. He has been criticised by health experts for showing complete disregard for physical distancing norms by attending rallies and meeting groups of supporters, often without wearing a protective mask. A top judge in Brazil had to order Bolsonaro to wear a mask in June.

Meanwhile, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has been undergoing trials in Brazil for weeks. The vaccine has already been administered to some people in the United States and the United Kingdom. However, it has had some side effects on some people on whom it had been administered.

Four trial volunteers in the UK who received the vaccine got Bell’s Palsy (a form of temporary facial paralysis). A nurse in USA who was given the vaccine fainted in the middle of a press meet triggering concerns of safety about the vaccine.

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A recent video released by the Wildlife Conservation Society showed several thousand Giant South American River turtle hatchlings emerging from a beach in the protected area around the Amazon River in Brazil. The video of this phenomenon became viral and was widely spoken about since this was a never before seen sight. Close to 71000 turtle hatchlings animals in a single day. This was followed by another 21000 a few days later.

Researchers from the Reserva Biológica do Abufari had been monitoring this hatching of turtle eggs in the reserved and protected region of this riverbank. They had been studying the conditions to help conserve and protect this endangered species, that had been subject to a lot of poaching.

Camila Ferrara, Aquatic Turtle Specialist for WCS’s Brazil said, “For the giant South America river turtle, birth is an explosion of life, but also it is the most fragile phase. In some areas, hatchlings use mass birth to increase their survival. The synchronization of birth allows them to travel together to the river to start a new journey.”

The conservation work is part of a project led by WCS Brazil in partnership with ICMBIO and is sponsored by Fundação o Boticário. The Giant South American river turtle is the largest freshwater turtle in Latin America, reaching lengths of three and a half feet (1.07 meters) and weights of 200 pounds (90 kg). The turtles play an important ecological role by dispersing seeds that eventually help regenerate vegetation along river corridors.

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Leaving away the hustles and bustles of the life of a stock broker, Jonas’ calling came from the land of the Vedas making him embark on the spiritual path and is now disseminating Vedic wisdom in Brazil.

Jonas Masetti who studied to be a mechanical engineer, teaches Vedanta and Bhagvad Geetha to people in Brazil. He runs an institution named Vishvavidya, located in the hills of Petropolis, which is situated at an hour’s distance from Rio De Janeiro.

But before all this began, he was an entrepreneur running a consulting firm and rubbing shoulders with top management companies. Despite having family, girlfriend, money, professional success, Jonas was not at peace with himself. From there, Jonas’ trajectory follows the template of the typical accomplished but dissatisfied individual looking for peace and satisfaction in life. He met one of Swami Dayanand Saraswati’s disciples in Brazil and had dedicated himself to learning Vedanta. However, his endless seeking put him on a journey to India where he became a disciple of Swami Dayanand Saraswati and stayed there for four years.

Jonas studied Vedanta Philosophy, Yoga ,Sanskrit and Indian Culture, staying at Arsha Vidya Gurukulam in Coimbatore for three years. Jonas became Vishvanatha and returned to Brazil to spread Vedas and the Vedanta philosophy.

Today, Jonas offer both online and courses in Vedanta, Sanskrit and Yoga in Portuguese. He also offers spiritual retreats to give Brazilians an ashram like experience. During the last seven years, through his free open courses on Vedanta, Jonas has taught over a lakh & a half students.

Jonas has a vibrant social media presence. He has around 34,000 followers on Instagram and his YouTube channel has close to 1.2 lakh subscribers. His rendition of Sanskrit verses is sharp and his Vedanta discourse in Brazil shows how much effort he has put in studying and grasping the nuances of divine knowledge.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had chanced upon Jonas Masetti’s work. Speaking about Jonas Masetti, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Mann Ki Baat today said “Many people came to India to discover and study them and stayed back for ever, whereas some of them returned to their respective countries as carriers of this culture.”

“Jonas is not only doing great work – he is doing it through a language understood by a large number of people.”, said PM Modi congratulating him on his efforts and wishing him well for his future endeavours.

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India has demanded that the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) be reformed at the earliest. In a letter to the UNGA President, India has once again stated that concrete action is necessary, highlighting that the process has lagged on for over a decade.

India’s letter comes in reference to ‘Common African Position‘ – that stresses about the aspirations of the African counties to get their rightful place in an expanded UNSC. India has asked a swift action for the UNSC reform with respect to ‘Common African Position’ that has been delayed by those ‘who do not want reform’ in the UN.

This letter sent by India to the UN Security Council, states that India will continue to raise its voice for tangible action for strengthening the world body.

Right now only five nations, the United States, Great Britain, France, Russia and China are permanent members. India being the world’s largest democracy, along with Brazil, Germany and Japan (the Group of 4 or G4 countries) for long, asked for their rightful place at the UN high table as a permanent member.

The G4 (India, Brazil, Germany and Japan), in a common letter, demands concrete action on UNSC reforms. The process has lagged on for over a decade without progress: Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations, New York pic.twitter.com/PMtyrr3v12

— ANI (@ANI) September 1, 2020

Former Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin, in 2019 had said on the issue of ‘Categories of Membership’ that a total of “113 member states out of the 122 which submitted their positions in the Framework Document, support expansion in both of the existing categories specified in the Charter.”

India has been fighting for its right to get membership as permanent Security Council member for years. However, it has the full support of four members, except China which has used its veto powers to stop India’s entry into the apex security body.

Earlier this year, India was overwhelmingly elected as a non-permanent member to the UNSC for the eighth-time. India was the only country from the Asia-Pacific Group and won the election unopposed.

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