New Delhi, June 13 : Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday reiterated India’s demand for permanent membership at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), saying if the most populous nation does not find a seat as a permanent member of the UNSC, which tends to undermine the “moral legitimacy” of the United Nations.

Pitching for “reform” in United Nations’ bodies, the Defence Minister said, “The time has come for making the UN bodies more democratic and representative of the current realities of our age.”

The Defence Minister made these remarks while addressing an event here to commemorate the

75th anniversary of the UN Peacekeepers Day.

He also expressed concern on the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine and said it led to food crises in various African and Asian countries, and also fuelled an energy crisis in the world.

Speaking over India’s contribution on UN peacekeeping, he said,” India has been one of the largest contributors to UN peacekeeping operations. Since its first commitment in Korea in 1950, Indian troops have supervised complex, unmanageable peace operations, earning universal admiration for their professional excellence”.

The Minister lauded the efforts of the UN peacekeepers for working tirelessly to build a peaceful,

and inclusive world.

He said, their unwavering commitment, professionalism, and sacrifices inspire all.

“The United Nations Peacekeeping Operations have been instrumental in maintaining stability, preventing conflicts, and facilitating the restoration of peace in regions torn apart by violence,”

he said.

Rajnath Singh said the most significant aspect of UN peacekeeping missions is that these missions operate with the consent of the parties involved in the conflict.

“It is not thrust upon the local communities or parties from the outside; rather the demand for the same emerges from within,” he said.