Seoul: India on Friday failed in its determined bid to clinch membership of Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) in the face of strong China-led opposition after which it gave vent to its unhappiness over the hurdles created by Beijing.
In a clear setback to its efforts to join the 48-nation grouping, a two-day NSG plenary ended here after deciding against accepting India’s membership application.
China, which had made no secret of its opposition, succeeded in scuttling India’s bid despite a significant majority backing the Indian case. Thirty-eight countries supported India, according to Indian officials.
Beijing was unrelenting in thwarting India despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting in Tashkent yesterday to support India’s case on its merits.
An upset India later accused “one country”, a clear reference to China, of persistently creating procedural hurdles during the discussions on its application.
“We understand that despite procedural hurdles persistently raised by one country, a three-hour-long discussion took place last night on the issue of future participation in the NSG,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.
“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 (NPT).
“An overwhelming number of those who took the floor supported India’s membership and appraised India’s application positively. We thank each and every one of them. It is also our understanding that the broad sentiment was to take this matter forward,” he said.