Talking about countries other than China opposing India’s entry into the elite club, Swarup said, “As I mentioned earlier, there was only one country which persistently raised procedural hurdles, as a result of which no decision could be arrived at in Seoul and we stick to that stand. As far as other countries are concerned, there are some who raised procedure related issues, but not a single country apart from that one country opposed India’s NSG membership”.
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NSG is likely to meet again before the end of the year to discuss membership of non-NPT signatories like India, which today made it clear to China, responsible for torpedoing its recent bid, that it was necessary to take care of India’s “interests” for forward movement in bilateral ties.
“I say this strongly that India should not accept the NSG membership”.
“Dialogue with China should continue. Both countries have their own national interest”, Chouhan told reporters here after returning from his six-day visit to China.
His comments assume significance in the backdrop of Chinese Foreign Ministry’s assertion that Beijing’s opposition at NSG, which is a multi-lateral platform, will not impact the India-China ties adversely. While China’s public posture and Pakistan’s determined lobbying against India were predictable, what was perhaps not anticipated is the manner in which some other participating governments withheld their support for India’s application.
The group is focused on restricting nuclear proliferation by controlling which countries can gain access to technology used in making atomic weapons. China and others had argued that current NSG guidelines do not allow for entry of non-NPT countries like India.
According to government sources, a panel for informal consultations on India’s membership has been set up by the NSG to be headed by Argentine Ambassador Rafael Grossi.
Another party spokesperson Tom Vadakkan said there was no need for this “event management on NSG”. “Unfortunately, India couldn’t become member of NSG”, he said.
Sinha’s son Jayant is junior minister for finance. On Modi’s Pakistan policy, Sinha said “nothing” has come out, or will. Sinha had served as the External Affairs Minister and had also handled the Finance portfolio during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government.
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In an apparent swipe at PM Modi, the 83-year old Sinha said he comes under the “category of brain dead” but is still giving his advice.
