Govt burns the midnight oil, says 20 former doubters supported its case at Thursday’s meet.
Hectic lobbying has been on in Vienna and Delhi as the 45-country Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) heads for a final say on whether India will be granted a clean waiver to conduct nuclear commerce.
External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee even waited till the early hours of Thursday morning to talk to a Scandinavian foreign minister who was busy “dancing at a party”.
Mukherjee finally managed to talk to the minister at 2 am and sought his country’s support for India at the NSG, the grouping of nuclear suppliers, which aims at non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.
Such hard work, government sources said, is likely to pay off as 20 countries, including Japan, Norway, Switzerland and the Netherlands, who earlier had apprehensions about India receiving a clean waiver, today strongly supported India’s case at the meeting.
The NSG requires a consensus among its members for India to get a clean waiver for nuclear trade.
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Pranab Mukherjee told Business Standard: “We have to wait till tomorrow for the results. But as of now, things look positive.”
According to sources, the only vocal and public opposition to India’s clean waiver continues from Austria, which appears not to have been influenced by US persuasion till Thursday evening. But Indian representatives hope Austria might soften its stand later if it finds that no other country is willing to side with it in the final round of talks.
China, sources said, has not made its stand clear. “It hasn’t said anything, neither in our favour nor against us, but just listened to what others said,” said a top government source.
“Of course, privately it is trying to persuade some countries against a clean waiver for India. It has even asked the US not to clinch the waiver in haste and to hold more discussions since it will have international ramifications,” the source added.
Last night, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Mukherjee spoke to a number of NSG member countries to seek their support. According to sources, countries like Germany, Japan, the UK and Russia have strongly supported India’s case today at the NSG. Russia took it upon itself to convince an apprehensive Switzerland that finally appeared in favour of a clean waiver for India, just as the US has been able to convince New Zealand. However, despite US attempts, Ireland remains undecided.
As the meeting in Vienna proceeded, the Indian establishment in New Delhi was busy assessing the situation on an hourly basis. After the cabinet meeting, the prime minister held consultations with Mukherjee and his key aides. Later, National Security Advisor M K Narayanan and Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Anil Kakodkar met Mukherjee. Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon, stationed in Vienna, also kept in touch with New Delhi throughout the day.
The prime minister, sources said, appears relaxed and hopeful of a happy outcome for India, said a senior minister who met him on Thursday morning.