25 August :Amid apprehensions here that the amended NSG draft waiver for New Delhi’s nuclear commerce could include language that would bind the country, India has said it wants civil nuclear cooperation but not "at any cost" and asserted that it will not accept any "conditions".
Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Anil Kakodkar made it clear that India will not allow itself to be "pushed" over the nuclear deal and it will accept the waiver only if it is within the parameters of 18th July 2005 Indo-US Joint Statement.
"India is looking for acceptable NSG exemption, clean exemption with no additional conditions and the parameters have to be within the parameters of July 18,2005 understanding with the US," Kakodkar told reporters in Mumbai on Monday on the sidelines of a function at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre.
"Civil nuclear cooperation is important but that does not mean at any cost," he said.
On suggestions that the Nuclear Suppliers Group countries were trying to push India to accept a few changes in the draft, he said "civil nuclear cooperation is important and they may push India but India does not get pushed." "Should we allow ourselves to be pushed? Are we not Indians? Are you not proud of yourself and what you are doing?", Kakodkar said.
His remarks came as India and the US prepared to amend the draft waiver because of demands articulated by several NSG countries at last week’s meeting of the 45-nation grouping. DDINEWS