Modi govt treating foreign policy as 'event management exercise': JD(U)

'Membership of NSG showed lack of preparation, inadequate backroom diplomacy and too much hype,' said Pavan Verma

Indicting the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA regime for treating foreign policy as an event management exercise, the Janata Dal (United) on Saturday said the Centre pursued their membership in the NSG elite group with inadequate backroom diplomacy and lack of preparation.

"I think foreign policy is a matter of national consensus, so we should not try to see it in partisan political terms. But I do believe that the manner in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi and this government pursued their membership of NSG showed lack of preparation, inadequate backroom diplomacy and too much hype in terms of possible results," JD(U) leader Pavan Verma told ANI.

Verma further said that the main problem with the NDA Government is that they fail to realise that foreign policy is a calibrated, quiet and strategic doctrine and not an event management exercise.

On Friday, China said that the NSG will not discuss the membership bid, adding that New Delhi will first have to sign the NPT, as it is a must and a major criteria set up by the NSG.

Earlier, highly placed sources told ANI that China is not the sole opponent to India's member ship to the NSG, but Brazil, Austria, Ireland, Turkey and New Zealand too have opposed India's entry, citing it's not being a signatory of the NPT for nuclear weapons and weapons technology.

Meanwhile, on a day on mixed developments for India, Canada and Brazil have extended their complete support to New Delhi.

According to sources, Brazil supported India's bid but called for a common criteria for all non-NPT states.

Brazil also said that India has by far a better nuclear proliferation record than Pakistan.

However, in a complete shocker, Switzerland, who had earlier extended its complete support, has now opposed New Delhi's bid citing it being a non NPT state.

This comes as a jolt for India as earlier, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Switzerland, the European nation had extended its complete support.