India not concerned over G-8 declaration on N-issue: Pranab
Press Trust of India / New Delhi Jul 13, 2009, 15:21 IST
India today said it is not concerned about G-8 developed nations vowing to curb transfer of some sensitive nuclear technology to non-NPT members, saying for New Delhi clean waiver given by Nuclear Suppliers' Group is only relevant aspect for cooperation in the field.
"So far as civil nuclear cooperation is concerned, the appropriate agency is IAEA and the 45-member NSG. We have got clean waiver from NSG. We are not deeply concerned (over G-8 declaration)," Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee told the Rajya Sabha.
Mukherjee, who was External Affairs Minister when India got waiver from the NSG and signed India specific safeguards agreement with IAEA last year, was responding to opposition members' concern on the G-8 declaration at Italy.
At its summit in L'Aquila last week, the G-8 issued a declaration in which it underlined that they will curb transfer of enrichment and reprocessing technology and items to nations which are not signatories to nuclear non-proliferation treaty, a decision which may impact India.
Mukherjee added India is not a member of G-8 grouping and it is only part of an outreach countries group of five countries.
The issue was raised by senior BJP member Najma Heptulla who wanted a statement from the government on the development. Supported by her party colleagues and Left members, she asked the government whether the G-8 declaration would mean the extra conditionalities on the waiver given by the NSG.
She wanted to know whether India was consulted before the declaration and if so whether the government had agreed. Brinda Karat (CPI-M) asked why the House has been kept in the dark over such an important issue.
The opposition parties in the parliament are justified in raising doubts/apprehensions about the declaration by G-8 countries to curb transfer some of the sensitive nuclear technology to non NPT members, India being one of them. But, as rightly explained by former External Affairs Minister, Pranab Mukerjee that there is no need to get unduly alarmed on this issue, because India has already got waiver from 45 NSG countries and India specific safegurds from the appropriate agency, IAEA. While Indo-US nuclear deal is fool-proof, India is going to sign Indo-France nuclear deal during PM Dr Mnmohan singh,s visit to France.
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