Why speculate about China blocking India's NSG bid: VK Singh

Minister of State for External Affairs General VK Singh said that the plenary meeting in Seoul did not discuss accession of any specific country.

Ballia: Minister of State for External Affairs General VK Singh on Saturday stirred up a controversy by disapproving reports that China blocked India`s bid for entry in to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

Expressing surprise over such media reports, VK Singh said that the plenary meeting in Seoul did not discuss accession of any specific country.

"NSG meet happens in closed quarters, so we don`t know what happened inside. So why speculate? The facts are only known to the people who are inside the room. We have been trying to become a part of NSG from 2008. We believe that our nation should be granted membership," Singh said on the sidelines of a function.

However, on June 24, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup without naming Beijing said "procedural hurdles persistently raised by one country" stalled India's bid even as most others in the grouping supported New Delhi.

Meanwhile, the NSG will meet yet again this year to discuss the process of inclusion of countries like India, who have not signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

A special plenary session of the NSG can be called by the year end.

According to sources, there is a possibility of India`s inclusion in the NSG, while New Delhi will continue to discuss the issue with China.

The NSG had earlier failed to reach a consensus on New Delhi`s membership application after several members of the 48-member group insisted on adhering to NPT conditions for admission.

(With Agency inputs)