New Delhi: Nearly a month after its bid for NSG membership was stalled by China and some other countries on the ground that it was a non-NPT signatory, India today said countries like Brazil, Argentina and France became members of NSG when they were not signatory to the NPT.

Replying to a written question in Lok Sabha, Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh said it is understood that consultations on the issue of membership are ongoing within the NSG and the government continues to engage with all NSG members for an early decision on India’s application.

The Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) Plenary meeting in Seoul on June 23-24 concluded without a decision on India’s membership following a stiff opposition by China and some other countries. They opposed entry of a non-NPT signatory into the 48-nation grouping.

“The following countries became members of NSG without first being members of the NPT: Argentina, Brazil and France,” said Singh, who also asserted that India has a well-developed and diversified indigenous nuclear power programme.

Membership of the NSG would place the existing cooperation India has with other countries such as Canada, the UK and the US on a predictable basis and facilitate the enhanced investments, industrial tie-ups and technology access required to accelerate augmentation of nuclear power capacity in India, Singh added.

PTI