On Friday, After India failed to get the membership of the 48-member elite Nuclear Suppliers Group, India has launched attack on China for blocking India’s NSG bid, without specifically naming it. Disappointed India, after facing failure at the NSG, said that one country persistently created ‘procedural hurdles’, emphasizing on China’s continuous insistence on signing Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Although other countries such as Iceland, Ireland, Austria, Belgium, Brazil and Turkey had questioned India’s admission into NSG without signing the NTP along with China, India has singled out China only without commenting on others.

External Affairs Ministry official spokesperson Vikas Swarup said, “We understand that despite procedural hurdles persistently raised by one country, a three-hour-long discussion took place last night on the issue of the future participation in the NSG.”

“The NSG plenary in Seoul earlier in the day decided against granting India membership of the grouping immediately and said it will continue to have discussions on participation of countries which have not signed the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty.”

India was strongly backed by the countries such as Japan, Russia, Britain, Franc and importantly United States for its admission into the NSG. China was blocking India’s entry facilitated by United States for bringing in its close ally, Pakistan, who have also applied for NSG membership, although its application never even raised for discussion in the meeting. Interestingly, Pakistan also have not signed the NPT.

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The statement issued after the completion of the plenary meeting by the NSG has concentrated more in NPT agreement by saying, “Participation governments reiterated their firm support for the full, complete and effective implementation of the NPT as the cornerstone of the international non proliferation regime.”

However, according to experts, the word ‘implementation’ used in the statement is the last attempt made by the western nations for India’s entry into the NSG as India will just have to abide by the NPT rather than signing it.

The opposition party, Congress has questioned PM Narendra Modi government’s foreign policy after India failed to become a NSG member. Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma said, “We do not know why India showed its desperation and allowed the country to be equated with Pakistan on the issue of NSG membership.”

He added, “It’s high time that Prime Minister Narendra Modi realizes that diplomacy requires gravitas, depth and seriousness. PM Modi needs to realize diplomacy needs depth not public tamasha.”

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By Prajakt K.