BackIndia not concerned over G-8 declaration on N-issue: Pranab Mukherjee
India not concerned over G-8 declaration on N-issue: Pranab Mukherjee
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New Delhi: India on Monday 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 said 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.
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