Swamy asks Centre to reconsider Shashi Tharoor's nomination

Chennai, June 16 (UNI) Janata Party President Subramanian Swamy today urged the UPA Government at the Centre to reconsider its decision proposing Mr Shashi Tharoor for the post of UN Secretary General and said the post should go to someone from smaller Asian nations.

In a statement here, he claimed the Centre had taken the decision without consulting the Opposition.

''The decision to back Mr Tharoor appears to be prompted by a desire of the Congress to reward him for some obscure reasons that have nothing to do with our national interests,'' he alleged.

As India was an emerging global power and a strong candidate for a permanent seat with a Veto power in the UN Security Council, it would be inappropriate and inconsistent with India's global importance to have an Indian for the top post in the UN.

''Instead the post should go to someone from smaller Asian nations,'' he added.

UNI GV AJ SHB KP1906