New Delhi: President Barack Obama today announced support for India's quest for permanent membership of a 'reformed' UN Security Council (UNSC) 'in the years ahead', as he wrapped up his three-day state visit.
His widely-awaited endorsement of India joining the elite club of five permanent members of the UNSC came in the course of 35-minute address to members of both Houses of Parliament and was greeted with thunderous thumping of desks.
The announcement is seen as a diplomatic gesture although it was clear that the reform of the Security Council is going to be a long and tedious process. With that in mind, Obama pointedly used the expression 'in the years ahead'.
In a forthright speech, Obama, however, appeared to be critical of India for not supporting sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programme and not speaking out over human rights abuses in Myanmar where New Delhi has a good relationship with military rulers.