Yashwant Sinha, who was the External Affairs Minister in the Vajpayee government, has criticised the Modi government for “needlessly” and unsuccessfully pushing for membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
“India has shown so much keenness in getting NSG membership; it is not required at all. I say this very strongly that India should not accept the NSG membership. We should not go there as an applicant. Whatever we had to get, we have got it,” the former Minister said.
Mr. Sinha made these comments after India's unsuccessful attempt to gain the membership of the NSG at its plenary meeting in Seoul, as divisions in the 48-country group persisted over admitting non-NPT members with China leading the opposition to it.
Mr. Sinha did not restrict the criticism of the Modi government’s foreign policy only to the push for membership of the NSG, but also its relations with Pakistan, in the wake of the attack on CRPF men in Pampore on Saturday.
“For the government, I am under the category of brain dead as I do not even have the status to give an opinion, but I have continuously opposed the government’s policy towards Pakistan,” the former Minister said.
“If it is true that the two terrorists killed yesterday were Pakistanis, then it is clear that it’s a war like situation for India and Pakistan. It is with great distress that I am saying that our government’s policy towards Pakistan has failed. There are still many leaders who will call for cordiality with Pakistan saying they are bechara (to be pitied). They are not bechara, they have been attacking us for years and now they are targeting our defence personnel head on,” Mr. Sinha said.
“If we never question Pakistan and keep bowing down to them, then attacks like those in Pathankot and Pampore will continue. After incidents like Pathankot, we bang our chests and weep and then forget about it,” the former Union Minister said
