Opposition parties have criticised the Narendra Modi government’s foreign policy as almost six countries, including China and Switzerland, opposed India’s entry to the coveted Nuclear Suppliers’ Group (NSG).

The Congress said it is highly disappointed with the outcome of the NSG Plenary at Seoul.

Raised expectations

“The government had raised huge expectations — the last minute flurry of activity by Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself and the Foreign Minister, Foreign Secretary and various delegations, criss-crossed various capitals. We were looking forward to a positive outcome because that would have been the culmination of the work started by the UPA when it came to power in May 2004, beginning with the July 2005 joint statement of US President George Bush and Manmohan Singh which opened up the possibility of nuclear cooperation with global powers, and the United States in particular,” said former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan.

Equating India with Pakistan

Talking to reporters at the AICC headquarters on Friday, Chavan said personalised diplomacy by the Prime Minister failed to ensure India’s entry to NSG.

“The statement by the Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj that India have no objection to entry of Pakistan into NSG based on merit, is absolutely shocking. Congress vehemently opposes the equating of India and Pakistan by the Indian Foreign Minister,” Chavan said.

He said the development is a huge diplomatic let-down of the country after raising expectations to such a great height. “The Prime Minister must explain as to what went wrong …and what is the Prime Minister’s stand on Pakistan, particularly about Pakistan’s standard of behaviour on non proliferation,” Chavan added.

The AAP also criticised the Prime Minister. “PM Modi has completely failed on the foreign policy front. He owes an explanation on what he did on his foreign jaunts,” said Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

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