PM Modi confident on NSG, says process has begun on positive note

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

Modi said India has a number of 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 and NSG.

"First thing is that India has taken up such efforts consistently whichever government was in power -- be it membership of UN Security Council, SCO or MTCR or NSG. All of us made efforts.

"It is not only this government which has done this. This is in continuity. It is true that in our tenure, SCO has been achieved, MTCR membership has been achieved. I am fully confident that we have begun efforts in the direction of the NSG (membership), formally.

"The process has begun on a positive note. Everything is governed by its own 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 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.