What was the argument behind Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru rejecting UNSC seat and offering it to China? Is it true and if yes, then why did he do that & if the answer is no, then from whence this rumor derived?

Today’s government and their supporters fail to understand Nehru’s very sensible approach.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley recently said that : India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru was the “original sinner” who favoured China over India for permanent membership in the UN Security Council.

This reply comes within hours of Congress president Rahul Gandhi terming Prime Minister Narendra Modi as “weak” and “scared” of Chinese President Xi Jinping after Beijing blocked a U.N. resolution to designate JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist.

“The original mistake, both on Kashmir and China, was committed by the same person,” said Mr. Jaitley while quoting a letter written by Mr. Nehru to Chief Ministers on 2nd August, 1955.

Mr. Jaitley, maybe he heads the publicity department of the BJP for the ensuing general elections 2019, has quoted a part of the letter. Here’s the images :

Before starting my lines, I want to clear – I’m not a big fan of Nehru. But I don’t think he was so stupid. Maybe he took fairly smart moves here. And I do not even know that a reputable analyst has researched this issue & blamed Nehru for this. On this blog I will not associate with any person or political party on this blog, if you feel bad then I am extremely sorry for that. Many thoughts were being organized in this regard for many days, I want to bring everything in front of everyone whatever documents I have.

I told it because from 14th March 2019, a lots of materials shared by many people on social media, people started arguing without knowing the facts.

There’s an evidence that after the Chinese civil war in 1949, India was offered to replace Republic of China (aka Taiwan), as a permanent member in United Nations Security Council.

1. Mr. Nehru’s letter to Chief Ministers

• In a letter dated 02 Aug 1955, Mr. Nehru informed the Chief Ministers of states that “suggestions have been made” by United States that India should replace China in Security Council.

• The text below is taken from Page 237 of Mr. Nehru’s “Letters to the Chief ministers Volume 4 (1947-1964)”, Oxford University Press, Government of India 1988 which can be accessed online.

Image Source : Letters-To-Chief-Ministers-1947-1964-Vol-4

2. Communication with Ms. Vijayalakshmi Pandit

• Ms. Vijayalakshmi Pandit who was India’s ambassador to USA wrote in a letter dated 24 Aug 1950 that US State Department was anxious to have India replace China in Security Council.

In response, Mr. Nehru’s letter dated 30 August 1950 confirmed that he was not keen on taking up this offer as it would be an “affront to China”

3. Dr. Anton Harder’s research paper

• Dr. Anton Harder is an eminent historian with particular expertise in China, India and international diplomacy.

• His PhD dissertation in the International History Department of the London School of Economics was on China-Indian relations from 1949-1962.

• His dissertation includes the letters quoted above and also the following exchange with Nicolai Bulganin from USSR.

• Bulganin suggests USSR proposing India’s inclusion as “6th member” of Security Council. Mr. Nehru turned down this offer as well while mentioning that “some people in US” have suggested India’s inclusion but this would cause problems with China.

4. Dr. Shashi Tharoor’s book

• Dr. Shashi Tharoor, who is a member of Congress Party and was also a long-time diplomat at United Nations has written in his book “Nehru – The Invention of India” that Mr. Nehru had indeed declined the offers of India’s induction as permanent member of UN Security Council.

• This was also quoted in The Hindu in January 2004

• On 15 March 2019, Mr. Tharoor tweeted about the controversy and explained the reasons for Mr. Nehru declining this offer.

Image Source: The Hindu and Dr. Shashi Tharoor’s verified account on Twitter.

Reasons for confusion:

• As referenced above, in Aug 1955, Mr. Nehru himself wrote a letter to Chief Ministers apprising them about his decision to decline the option of India joining as permanent member of UN Security Council

• However, one month later in Sep 1955 he said in the Parliament that there was “no offer, formal or informal” – which was not completely true

• In those days there was no social media, and mainstream media was not as strong as it is today. Mr. Nehru probably got away with what could be interpreted as a misleading statement in the parliament.