NSG bid: Modi upbeat despite China blow

 

Notwithstanding China's objection to India's entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today exuded confidence that the country will get membership of the bloc and that the process for it has begun on a "positive note".

 

Modi said India has some problems with China and efforts are on to resolve them one-by-one through talks.

 

Asked during an interview whether he was disappointed as China blocked India's bid for membership of the NSG and how close it was to getting it, Modi only said things will move forward as per rules.

 

The Prime Minister said successive governments have made consistent efforts for getting membership of the UN Security Council, Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) and NSG 

 

"The process has begun on a positive note. Everything is governed by its rules. Things will move forward as per rules," he told Times Now channel.

 

Asked about China scuttling India's NSG bid and its efforts to get Masood Azhar banned by the UN despite Modi's frequent interactions with Chinese President Xi Jingping, the Prime Minister said efforts are on to resolve issues with that country through talks.

 

"We have an ongoing dialogue with China, and it should continue. In foreign policy, it is not necessary to have similar views to have a dialogue. Even when there are contradictions, talks are the only way forward, and the problem should be resolved through dialogue.

 

"We do not have one problem with China; we have a whole lot of problems pending with China. There are so many issues. Slowly and steadily efforts are on to find solutions to them one-by-one," said Modi.

 

He said China has also been cooperative towards finding solutions.

 

"But there are some issues in which we differ from them, and they differ from us. But the most important thing is that we are now talking to China eye-to-eye and raising the issues of Indian interests boldly. Three days back I met the Chinese President and put forward issues relating to India's interests strongly," he said.

 

AGUSTAWESTLAND CASE

In the same interview to Times Now, Modi today ruled out political witch hunt in the probe into the AgustaWestland chopper deal, saying investigating agencies will do a professional job and whatever names come up, "let's see".

However, he maintained that a "sin" had been committed and those behind them have had a "big protective cover".

 

"The case about Agusta helicopters. I can't deny it and I believe that we have the right to doubt that person behind this is very experienced.

 

"They have perfectly practised the art of doing wrong deeds. They are very experienced and knowledgeable. And one can also smell the fact that such a thing wouldn't have been done without a big protective shield. Now, agencies are probing. Let's see how far the probe goes," he told Times Now.