Rediff On The NeT: Gujral asks US to lift technology transfer embargo

Gujral asks US to lift technology transfer embargo

Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral on Monday called upon the United States to revise its embargo policy on the transfer of strategic technology to India in the interest of good relations between the two countries.

Gujral was addressing the media after the successful launch of India's first operational Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-C1.

Asked whether he had taken up the issue with President Bill Clinton during his recent visit to the US, Gujral said, ''I made one point very clear. The US has to revise its embargo policy in the interest of the good relations which are developing between the two countries."

As for the technology regime's consequences on India, the prime minister said, ''I don't think anyone can stop us."

Gujral said some developed countries did not want a developing country like India to be on par with them in the frontier areas of science and technology.

Every time such barriers in science and technology were imposed, Indians have done the country proud by overcoming them, like when India was denied Cray supercomputer and the cryogenic engine for the Indian Space Research Organisation's proposed Geostationary Satellite Launch Vehicle.

The greatness of Indian scientists has been demonstrated with every denial being converted into an opportunity for development, he pointed out.

Asked to comment on the efforts reportedly made by some countries to wilfully prevent India from acquiring hi-tech knowhow, he said he did not want to enter into a controversy.

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