Obama says US wants India to be a permanent UNSC member
November 8th, 2010 - 7:50 pm ICT by ANI
New Delhi, Nov.8 (ANI): Visiting US President Barack Obama on Monday backed India for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
Addressing a joint session of Parliament this evening, Obama made this dramatic diplomatic gesture ahead of wrapping up his first visit to India.
In doing so, President Obama fulfilled India’s dearest wish from the Obama visit — an endorsement from Washington for India’s push for permanent Security Council membership in a change world order.
Obama is the second US President to address the joint session of the Parliament during his three-day India trip. The first was President Bill Clinton in 2000.
Earlier, Vice-President Hamid Ansari welcomed the US President and reiterated the common ideals that the two democracies stand for.
Obama was given a rousing welcome by the Members of Parliament.
Obama began his speech by saying that he was proud and honoured to address the Parliament of the world’s largest democracy.
Obama said India is not emerging, but it has already emerged as a power in the world order.
He also invoked his idols Mahatma Gandhi and US civil rights movement leader Martin Luther King in his address.
“I might not be standing in front of you as President of the US had it not been for Mahatma Gandhi and his message that inspired the Americans,” Obama said.
It was for the first time that teleprompters were installed in the Parliament to help the visiting US President deliver his speech. (ANI)
- Proud to visit India so early in presidency: Obama - Nov 08, 2010
- Obama gets ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan - Nov 08, 2010
- Obama speech impresses MPs, Left unimpressed (Roundup) - Nov 08, 2010
- Namaste India! Obama to read from teleprompter - Nov 06, 2010
- Eloquent Obama gets 25 rounds of applause (Sidelights) - Nov 08, 2010
- US backs India for UNSC permanent seat - with riders (Intro Roundup) - Nov 09, 2010
- Obama India itinerary finalised, US says it regards India as cornerstone of its Asia policy - Oct 28, 2010
- I am president because of Mahatma Gandhi: Obama - Nov 08, 2010
- US backs India for UN permanent seat, calls for 26/11 justice (Roundup) - Nov 08, 2010
- India welcomes Obama support for UN seat: Krishna - Nov 19, 2010
- India, US can cooperate for global economic development: President - Nov 08, 2010
- Obama's speech ambiguous: CPI-M - Nov 08, 2010
- Israel backs India for UN permanent seat - Jan 10, 2012
- Text of President Barack Obama's address to India's parliament - Nov 08, 2010
- Mahatma's grandson to attend Dalai Lama's birthday bash - Jul 04, 2011
Tags: barack obama, bill clinton, civil rights movement, council membership, democracies, gesture, hamid ansari, india trip, joint session, mahatma gandhi, martin luther king, members of parliament, movement leader, New Delhi, parliament, president bill clinton, rousing welcome, un security council, unsc, us civil rights