None of the 45 countries belonging to the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) has opposed the relaxation given to India regarding the supply of nuclear fuel but the 20 of the member countries have put some conditions in return.
In a meeting convened on Thursday regarding the Indo-American nuclear deal, the member countries have decided to put a condition for the supply of nuclear fuel and technology. This condition says that India would allow the U.N to monitor the nuclear reactors, a complete ban on the nuclear blasts and the timely analysis of the deal by the NSG.
The countries like Ireland, Austria, Switzerland and Sweden, which are the members of the NSG, opposed the supply of nuclear fuel and technology to India saying that India has not yet signed the non-proliferation treaty. The 20 other member countries decided to look into a few possibilities of putting terms and conditions before sending the matter to the U.S Congress for an approval. A green signal is needed from the 45 member countries of the NSG before it goes to the American Congress and senate for the approval.
In the meeting, it was conveyed to India that the group would supply fuel and technology to India with some terms and conditions though India hoped the supply free of any such terms. America urged the NSG to provide India the civil nuclear fuel seeing the nuclear responsibility of India.
The Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon led the Indian delegation in the meeting, special envoy Shyam Saran and the head of Atomic Energy Commission Anil Kakodkar. They voice the Indian concern of providing fuel without any terms and conditions.
The Minister Of State for Foreign Affairs Anand Sharma however believed that seeing the good record of India regarding nuclear disarmament, most of the NSG member countries would support the deal in the favor of India. It is to be mentioned that NSG imposed a complete ban on the supply of nuclear fuel to India after the nuclear test blast was conducted in Pokharan in 1974.