India chasing UNSC berth: Shivshankar Menon calls it a 'beauty contest'

Talk about matters such as external security and foreign affairs doesn't always have to be presented in a serious fashion.

Former National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon proved during a recent interview that a sense of humour helps when such heavy subjects are being tackled.

Menon was asked for his views on a permanent member status for India in the United Nations Security Council during a recent interview. He responded saying that since he is a free man, he can share his personal views on the subject.

"It's a beauty contest. You need five permanent members and 128 members of UN to vote for you. If that's where you want to go, if you think that's so important, good luck to you. You want to be Miss World, that's your business. That's not my idea of what India should be chasing," he said.

Do we want to preen and pose? Tough decision.