Page "Jawaharlal Nehru" Paragraph 96

In 1957, Menon was instructed to deliver an unprecedented eight-hour speech defending India ’ s stand on Kashmir ; to date, the speech is the longest ever delivered in the United Nations Security Council, covering five hours of the 762nd meeting on the 23 of January, and two hours and forty-eight minutes on the 24th, reportedly concluding with Menon's collapse on the Security Council floor.

During the filibuster, Nehru moved swiftly and successfully to consolidate Indian power in Kashmir ( then under great unrest ).

Menon's passionate defense of Indian sovereignty in Kashmir enlarged his base of support in India, and led to the Indian press temporarily dubbing him the ' Hero of Kashmir '.

Nehru was then at the peak of his popularity in India ; the only ( minor ) criticism came from the far-right.