New Delhi:
Nearly a month after India was snubbed by the Nuclear Suppliers Group or NSG, which refused in entry last month, India on Wednesday said countries like Brazil, Argentina and France became members of the nuke club when they were not signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Replying to a question in Lok Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh said it is understood that consultations on the issue of membership are ongoing within the NSG and the government continues to engage with all the member nations for an early decision on India's application.
The NSG plenary meeting in Seoul on June 23-24 concluded without a decision on India's membership following a stiff opposition by China and some other countries. They opposed entry of a non-NPT signatory into the 48-nation grouping.
"The following countries became members of NSG without first being members of the NPT: Argentina, Brazil and France," said Mr Singh, who also stressed that India has a well-developed and diversified indigenous nuclear power programme.
Membership of the NSG would place the existing cooperation India has with other countries such as Canada, the UK and the US on a predictable basis and facilitate the enhanced investments, industrial tie-ups and technology access required to accelerate augmentation of nuclear power capacity in India, he said.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Replying to a question in Lok Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh said it is understood that consultations on the issue of membership are ongoing within the NSG and the government continues to engage with all the member nations for an early decision on India's application.
The NSG plenary meeting in Seoul on June 23-24 concluded without a decision on India's membership following a stiff opposition by China and some other countries. They opposed entry of a non-NPT signatory into the 48-nation grouping.
"The following countries became members of NSG without first being members of the NPT: Argentina, Brazil and France," said Mr Singh, who also stressed that India has a well-developed and diversified indigenous nuclear power programme.
Membership of the NSG would place the existing cooperation India has with other countries such as Canada, the UK and the US on a predictable basis and facilitate the enhanced investments, industrial tie-ups and technology access required to accelerate augmentation of nuclear power capacity in India, he said.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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