The Lok Sabha was informed on Wednesday that India is in no way bending down on negotiations for joining the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). The House made it clear that is not considering any proposal to sign the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty (NPT) as a precondition for joining the NSG.
In response to a written question, minister of state for external affairs VK Singh said that India’s application for NSG membership is under consideration of the group. He further stated that the government still engages with the NSG and its members for a decision on India’s application.
The minister informed that India is aware of internal discussions of the NSG. The news is that while no member explicitly opposes India’s membership, procedural objections have been raised ostensibly on the grounds of India’s non-NPT status.
Singh asserted that “India’s position on the NPT remains unchanged. There is no proposal under consideration of the government to sign the NPT as a precondition for joining the NSG.”
India’s NSG membership bid has been consistently blocked by China. However, US and France have given support to New Delhi.